Girls tennis: 2014 All-Main Line girls tennis teams

The 2014 Main Line high school girls’ tennis campaign featured many outstanding performances, on both a team and individual level.

Conestoga captured the Central League title, and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state semifinals before falling to eventual runner-up Shadyside Academy.

Following a one-year absence, Harriton returned to the PIAA Class AAA state tournament, upsetting District 3 champion Exeter in the first round before falling to Mt. Lebanon in the second round. Lower Merion (12-6) had its best Central League finish in three years. Radnor (12-4 overall, 9-2 Central) also had a fine campaign.

The Inter-Ac produced four Main Line teams which had outstanding seasons. Episcopal Academy (11-3) and Agnes Irwin (12-2) shared the Inter-Ac crown, Academy of Notre Dame (12-2) had its finest season in five years and Baldwin School (8-4) had another strong campaign.

Shipley (8-1) was strong in the Friends’ Schools League.

Individually fine performances were turned in by many players throughout the Main Line.

The Conestoga pair of Kaylee Yan (No.1 singles) and Amy Zhang (No.2 singles) finished fourth in the PIAA Class AAA state doubles tournament.

Villa Maria’s Danielle Rufus and Regan Hatcher teamed to win the PIAA District One Class AA doubles tournament thus earning a berth to the state doubles tournament.

 

Harriton’s Rachel Benstock won the Central League singles tournament and advanced to the PIAA District One Class AAA singles tournament along with Lower Merion’s Simon Burde.

Episcopal Academy’s Genevieve McCormick won the Inter-Ac individual No. 1 singles flight and was named Delco Player-of-the-Year. Agnes Irwin’s Camille Smukler (7-0 during the regular season) also had a fine year, helping her team clinch a share of the Inter-Ac team title.

The All-Main Line high school girls’ tennis teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.

What follows are the 2014 All-Main Line high school girls’ tennis teams:

 

FIRST TEAM

Grace Leasure, Academy of Notre Dame — Sophomore was first team All-InterAc, and finished third at the InterAc Tournament for No. 1 singles players.

Meredith Hughes, Academy of Notre Dame — Senior was first team All-InterAc, posted a 12-1 record at No. 2 singles and finished fourth in the InterAc Tournament for No. 2 singles players.

Camille Smukler, Agnes Irwin — Junior was 7-0 in No. 1 singles during the regular season, was first team All-InterAc and placed second at No. 1 singles at InterAc Tournament.

Catie Burkhart, Agnes Irwin — Sophomore posted 9-3 record at No. 2 singles, was first team All-InterAc, and finished second in the InterAc Tournament at No. 2 singles.

Emma Sass, Baldwin School — Sophomore was a first team All-InterAc selection, as a standout No. 1 singles player for the Bears.

Hannah Ashton, Conestoga — Junior posted 22-0 record at No. 2 doubles, and was considered the Pioneers’ MVP, no small feat on a team that completed its sixth straight year as undefeated Central League champions.

Nour Elkassabany, Conestoga — Junior posted a 20-0 record at No. 2 doubles, was named to the All-Central doubles squad, and was valued for her positioning and shot selection.

Amy Zhang, Conestoga — Freshman placed sixth in the Central League Singles Tournament, then finished third in the PIAA district doubles tournament and fourth in the PIAA state doubles tournament, playing with Kaylee Yan.

Kaylee Yan, Conestoga — Senior tri-captain was considered the leader of the Central League champions at No. 1 singles, was second team All-Central League singles, and qualified for the PIAA state doubles tournament for the third straight year, finishing in fourth place this time around.

Genevieve McCormick, Episcopal Academy — Senior captain was InterAc singles champion and the All-Delco Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year, posting a 10-1 record at No. 1 singles for the InterAc champions. Is a West Point recruit for next fall.

Nadiyah Browning, Episcopal Academy — Junior was the InterAc No. 2 singles champion, posted an 11-3 record at No. 2 singles for the InterAc champions, was All-Delco first team and All-InterAc first team.

Bella Echvarria, Episcopal Academy — Junior posted a 13-1 record at No. 3 singles for the InterAc champions. Was All-InterAc first team and All-Delco second team selection.

Zoe Gisnberg, Friends’ Central — Sophomore No. 1 singles player was the leading performer for the Phoenix’s solid squad, placing second at the Friends’ Schools League individual championship and earning all-league honors.

Rachel Benstock, Harriton — Senior was undefeated during the regular season, including Districts and States, and was the Central League champion as well. Was Rams’ MVP each of the last three seasons.

Gav Rubenstein, Harriton — Senior was All-Central League doubles performer, and was a key performer for a strong Rams squad, playing where needed at singles and/or doubles and posting a 10-1 Central League record.

Simone Burde, Lower Merion — Sophomore was an All-Central League first team selection, posting 13-6 record at No. 1 singles and advancing to the PIAA District One quarterfinals in singles and the second round of PIAA District One doubles.

Norah Xiong, Radnor — Junior paired with teammate Camille Ernaelsteen at first doubles to compile a 12-2 record (9-1 in the Central League) and earn first team All-Central League doubles honors.

Camille Ernaelsteen, Radnor — Senior paired with teammate Norah Xiong at first doubles to compile a 12-2 record (9-1 in the Central League) and earn first team All-Central League doubles honors.

Taylor Nguyen, Sacred Heart – Senior posted an 11-3 record, finished third at AACA championships and second at Districts. Has been Lions’ top singles player the last four years.

Jill Nehrbas, Shipley — Junior No. 1 singles player was first team All-Friends’ Schools League selection, and posted an excellent 7-1 overall record.

Britt Lovett, Shipley — Junior No. 2 singles player was Gators’ MVP and a first team All-Friends Schools League pick. Was FSL individual singles champion and posted a 10-1 record.

McKinley Lovett, Shipley — Junior No. 3 singles player, a first team All-Friends’ Schools League selection, was an FSL individual singles champion and posted an 11-0 record.

Danielle Rufus, Villa Maria Academy — Senior was Hurricanes’ MVP and No. 1 singles player as well as a member of the All-AACA team. Teamed with Regan Hatcher to win the PIAA District One Class AA doubles tournament.

Reagan Hatcher, Villa Maria Academy — Junior was Hurricanes’ No. 2 singles player and teamed with Danielle Rufus to win the PIAA District One Class AA doubles tournament.

SECOND TEAM

Academy of Notre Dame — Anne Marie Crinnion, junior, No. 3 singles.

Agnes Irwin — Callie Burkhart, sophomore, No. 1 doubles; Lexi Short, freshman, No. 1 doubles.

Baldwin School — Ali Thaler, senior No. 1 doubles; Ari Hairston, sophomore No. 1 doubles; Julia Greitzer, junior No. 2 doubles; Davis Madeja, junior No. 2 doubles.

Conestoga — Lindsay Taaffe, senior No. 1 doubles; Julie Herman, junior No. 3 singles; Maddie Wood, freshman No. 1 doubles.

Episcopal Academy — Kaity Tarte, junior No. 1 doubles; Haley Potter, junior No. 1 doubles; Emily Beinkampen, sophomore No. 3 doubles; Eliose Nimoityn, sophomore No. 3 doubles.

Friends’ Central — Soairse Hahn, senior No. 1 doubles; Hannah Kaminsky, senior No. 1 doubles.

Haverford High — Morgane Wojtowicz, junior No. 2 singles.

Lower Merion — Emma Gogarnoiu, senior No. 2 singles; Noa Seligsohn, senior No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles.

Radnor — Quinn Flannery, sophomore No. 2 doubles; Amber Song, senior No. 2 doubles; Grace Moore, sophomore No. 3 doubles; Sasha Smolyansky, sophomore No. 3 doubles.

Shipley — Rachael Grobman, senior No. 1 doubles; Elizabeth Menkowitz, senior No. 1 doubles.

HONORABLE MENTION

Agnes Irwin — Kate Wahl, senior, No. 4 doubles; Sophie Yass, freshman, No. 4 doubles.

Episcopal Academy — Nina Stavropolous, sophomore No. 2 doubles; Mimi deLisser, sophomore No. 2 doubles.

Friends’ Central — Madeleine Coss, junior No. 2 doubles.

Lower Merion — Neve Brennan, sophomore No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles; Sarah Lipson, sophomore No. 2 doubles.

Sacred Heart – Tiara Canty, junior, No. 1 doubles; Abbey McGuckin, senior, No. 1 doubles; Marcella Marino, freshman.

Note: Archbishop Carroll did not submit a ballot.