Can Chatham’s Blydenburgh extend her streak?

In her first two high school seasons, Chatham’s Scarlett Blydenburgh has captured a pair of Morris County Tournament first singles titles, advanced to the round of 16 at the NJSIAA singles tournament twice, and compiled a 42-7 record while establishing herself as one of New Jersey’s elite players.

Still, among all her accomplishments and the ever-escalating expectations that follow, the junior’s humbling approach to the game and dedication to her teammates remains unwavering.

“I considered briefly playing only USTA tournaments and taking some time off this year but then I thought about how much I would miss my teammates and how important it is to represent a great school like Chatham,” Blydenburgh said. “I wanted to continue what we’ve started here over the last few years and I’m excited about being named as a captain and taking on a new leadership role.”

Blydenburgh’s stellar 2014 season ended in disappointment on the courts at Mercer County Park when she lost to Hightstown’s Sneha Rangu in a third-set (10-point) super-tiebreaker. But like most of the seven losses she has suffered over her first two seasons, Blydenburgh was able to reflect on the defeat and turn it into a positive moving forward.

“It’s a match that could have gone either way but she just played the big points better than I did and that’s something I need to work on,” Blydenburgh said. “I’m using it as motivation to hopefully go even further in the tournament this year.”

But long before Blydenburgh takes the court for the NJSIAA Tournament, she will get an opportunity to capture her third straight Morris County Tournament first singles title. In each of the past two seasons, she had defeated Mendham’s Lauren Hassell in the final. The pair will be the favorites to reach the MCT final again in late September, where Blydenburgh knows very well that her good friend Hassell, a senior, will be looking to put an end to her title run.

“We’ve played so many times during the season and at counties that we know each other very well,” Blydenburgh said. “Lauren and I seem to play at the counties every year and it would be a match I’d look forward to. It’s definitely a goal for me to win counties again if I get that opportunity. Right now, I just want to start off the season well and take it one match at a time.”

For the first time in her high school career, Blydenburgh will be one of the team’s veterans, along with Laurel Hickey, as Chatham welcomes a new core of young stars to the lineup.

“It’s definitely exciting and the expectations really don’t change,” said Blydenburgh. We lost a lot of good players but it’s also an opportunity for some of our new players to move into the lineup and play a big role. Everyone has high expectations and that includes winning the county tournament again and winning states too.”

Blydenburgh also has an outside chance to post 100 career high school victories, which would place her in select company, especially with all of them coming at first singles. But like all the other goals and expectations that come her way, the junior deflects the attention and simply concentrates on the immediate goal at hand.

“Winning 100 matches is in the back of my mind, like winning four county championships,” Blydenburgh said. “I don’t want to put any added pressure on myself or on my teammates so we just talk about winning the next match. If we continue to work hard, those goals will come within reach.”

Tennis Players to Watch

• Lauren Hassell, Mendham – The senior has been the MCT runner-up to Chatham’s Scarlett Blydenburgh in each of the past two years. Will 2015 finally be her moment?

• Stef Elling, Morristown – The junior won 22 of 26 matches last season and should be a threat in the MCT first singles draw.

• Meghan Acampora, Morristown – The junior, who won 26 of 30 matches last year, gives the Colonials a big one-two punch at the top of the singles lineup.

• Sedan Agar, Chatham – The freshman moves into the Cougars’ singles lineup with big shoes to fill.

• Emily Krupnick, Mountain Lakes – An MCT first singles semifinalist a year ago, she will play her fourth season at singles for a very young Lakers’ squad.

• Lauren Hernandez, Mendham – One of the top second singles players in the area, she gives the Minutemen a potent one-two punch at the top of the lineup.

• Laurel Hickey, Chatham – An MCT first doubles champion last season, Hickey is projected to step into the Cougars’ singles lineup this fall.

• Britany Lau, Kinnelon – The USTA five-star ranked freshman takes over the top singles spot for a very young and talented Colts’ squad.

• Lauren Hernandez, Mendham – The senior will once again be one of the top second singles players in the area.

• Lindsey Hernandez – The sophomore will defend her MCT third singles title as the anchor of the Minutemen’s potent singles lineup.