2018 Reporter/Times Herald Girls Tennis: Upper Dublin, Mt. St. Joseph ready to defend

The past few years, one match has held a lot of importance in the Suburban One League American Conference race.

When Upper Dublin and Wissahickon have met, whoever manages to win usually gets the inside track to the conference title. Last year, the Flying Cardinals won the match and then went on to win the American title, but their victory was by the slimmest of margins.

Once again, the Cardinals and Trojans look to be on a collision course although the addition of Abington to the American could certainly shake things up.

Girls’ tennis teams in The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery News area have already begun their seasons and many are again chasing championships.

Upper Dublin is out to defend its American crown but Wissahickon feels it has the lineup that can contend when the two meet. Mount St. Joseph won the AACA crown last year while Lansdale Catholic finished runner-up in the PCL and claimed the District 12-AA title.

Gwynedd Mercy Academy will be looking to replace state singles qualifier Genevieve Wurtz, who graduated and now plays at Loyola (Md.).

Souderton’s Caitlin Le, the area’s other state singles qualifier in 3A, is back for her junior year after a 17-3 record as a sophomore.

North Penn’s lineup receives a significant boost as junior Neha Velaga returns at No. 1 singles. As a freshman, Velga went unbeaten en route to the SOL Continental singles title. An accomplished club player, she didn’t play for the Knights as a sophomore but is back at No. 1 singles this fall.

The Knights had a terrific doubles grouping last year but have to rebuild a bit under first year coach Alex DeCecco.

Lansdale Catholic returns all but one player from last season. While Delaney Smith was a key part of the Crusaders’ No. 1 doubles team last year and made All-Catholic, everyone else is back a year stronger and ready to chase a PCL title.

LC has been foiled by Cardinal O’Hara in the PCL title the last few years, but with Shannon Carr and Casey Meehan anchoring singles play and a host of experienced doubles players back, the Crusaders will be able to make a run at it.

ARCHBISHOP WOOD
Coach: Dan Donnelly
Key Losses: Kylie Corliss
Athletes to Watch: Jessica Firriolo, Nora Hetzel, Claire Cardie
Outlook: “Returning No. 1 singles player, Jessica Firriolo, won the 2017 Philadelphia Catholic League singles title as a sophomore and advanced to the District 12 singles championship. In addition to Jessica No. 3 singles Nora Hetzel (sophomore) returns along with three seniors and two other juniors from the 2017 squad. Incoming freshman Claire Cardie will be a key addition to a team that looks forward to a very successful season.”

HATBORO-HORSHAM
2017 Record: 6-6
Coach: Michelle McGill
Key Losses: Antoinette Spinosa, Miller Huertgen
Athletes to Watch: Olivia Hirt, Jill Halpern
Outlook: “This team will be one where a strong foundation is built from a strong group of juniors and players who will guide the team’s direction for years to come. The team will also look to make its mark on the American League. I fully expect these girls will develop a chemistry that will help create a chemistry that will lead to a competitive yet fun atmosphere.”

LANSDALE CATHOLIC
2017 Record: 12-4, 7-1 PCL
Coach: Wendy Bradshaw
Key Losses: Delaney Smith
Athletes to Watch: Shannon Carr, Lindsey Echeimeier, Kelly Orner, Emily Handschuh, Katie Duffy, Becca Tiley, Elia Khrapko
Outlook: The defending District 12 AA champs, LC also placed second in the PCL a season ago. A good number of athletes return, including senior Shannon Carr, who elevates to the No. 1 singles spot. The Crusaders will again push for a PCL title and aim for a return to both the district title match and the state tournament. “I am expecting a fantastic season because they are such great girls and they’ve each worked hard and look better than last year.”

MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH
Last Season: 14-0
Coach: Joy Grafenstine
Key Losses: Sahar Ali
Athletes to Watch: Stow Weiss -senior playing 1st singles since her freshman year undefeated last year, Elizabeth Christine – playing varsity singles all 4 years 3rd singles freshman year and 2nd singles the other years undefeated last year
Outlook: “We are going for our fourth AACA Championship in a row, hopefully we can bring it home.”

NORTH PENN
2017 Record: 14-2
Coach: Alex DeCecco (first year)
Athletes to Watch: Neha Velaga, Lauren Alling, Karley Alling, Felicia Yan, Sabrina Palmer, Brynn Janke, Madhu William, Anushka Jadav, Adlena Washington-Brown
Outlook: “The team was 12-4 last year and was very strong, especially the doubles teams. Unfortunately we’ve lost three doubles players to graduation and a fourth, Victoria Junkneiwitz, has a broken wrist and is out for the season. Going into this season we don’t really know what we are going to get out of our doubles players. Overall, I am optimistic about our chances this year. I feel we’re pretty strong at the top of our line up. It will depend on how the doubles teams (#2, #3, #4) do as far as our team chances to compete for a league championship.”

PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH
2017 record: 8-5
Coach: Al Collins
Key Losses: Kia Shula , Amanda Nerenberg
Athletes to watch: Liza Smaliak, Marissa Nerenberg
Outlook: “Hard to project due to fielding a young team , hope is that last year’s record can be repeated.”

SOUDERTON
Coach: Jeff Bishop
Key Losses: Maddie Coleman
Outlook: “We return 10 varsity players from last year, so with a strong group of returners we are excited to build off of last year’s success.”

UPPER DUBLIN
2017 Record: 15-1
Coach: Dave Sheaffer
Athletes to Watch: Ksenija Tasich, Erin Hackett, Belinda Jin
Outlook: “We will likely be competing for the American Conference Championship which we have held the last several years. UD has always relied on the depth of our lineup so the big question for our team will be in 2018 whether we can win up top when we head to districts and they eliminate 3rd and 4th doubles from the competition. “

WISSAHICKON
2017 Record: 13-3
Coach: Mary Ellen Devlin
Key Losses: Sam Sullivan, Rachel Flame
Athletes to Watch: Jenny Landells, Hannah Wang, Nicole Zapping, Ella Chang, Katie, Julia Friedenberg
Outlook: “Wissahickon’s girl’s tennis looks to further last year’s 14-4 Suburban One League runner up to UD and District qualifier. Last year’s loss to UD was by a thin margin with three courts battling into third set losses.” With experience in singles and some promising freshmen taking over doubles spots, the Trojans again expect to contend in league and District I play.