The boys’ tennis team is playing some of its best tennis of the season. Last week, the team lost to Old Tappan 3-2, but coach Scott Grapin still viewed this match as a success. Old Tappan was ranked No. 9 in the Bergen Record’s Preseason Top 20 and has many great players.

Two of the team’s best players, Josh Kasper and Austin Davis, each won their respective matches, which accounted for the team’s two points. Both of their matches went into the third and final set, and they had to fight to the very end for their wins. Roger Zlotolow also played very well, almost winning his own match. Zlotolow took his opponent into the third set, but did end up being defeated.

The lineup for the first matches of the season was the same. Zlotolow played first singles, Kasper played second singles, and Davis played third singles.

But, Zlotolow will be missing the next two weeks due to a trip to Poland and Israel. His absence will shake up the lineup and force his teammates to play in positions that they normally would not play in. Kasper will now move to first singles, Davis will move to second singles, and Jordan Lauber and Alex Robinson will now move from doubles to singles.

Grapin said that Kasper and Davis will have a “really tough” time in Zlotolow’s absence, but expects them to compete and win some of their matches. On Monday, against Teaneck, Lauber and Robinson both won their matches, but the team fell short 3-2.

Zlotolow will be returning to the team for the rematch against Old Tappan on April 27 and for the Bergen County Tournament on May 9-10.