The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media 2021 Girls Tennis Preview
Girls tennis is set to begin this week and area coaches and players alike can take a collective deep breath that the season appears to be back to normal after last year.
And what a season it appears to be for area girls tennis players.
Wissahickon has lofty expectations after taking 2nd in District 1-3A last season. With Ella Chang returning and the addition of freshman sensation YiYi Huang the Trojans should at the very least battle it out with experienced Upper Dublin for the SOL Liberty crown. Both teams seem capable of making a run to the District 1 Tournament.
Another team to watch out for will be Methacton, who returns both top singles players in Alice Liang and Hana Nouaime.
Oh by the way, they have a freshman named Anika Suresh ready to step into No. 3 singles.
Liang and Nouaime combined to win the District 1-3A doubles title last season and went all the way to the state finals.
What they have in store for an encore should be fascinating to watch.
As far as individual accolades, one to watch out for will be Souderton’s Amanda Yang, who has only improved after winning the SOL Colonial singles title as a freshman.
Here is a capsule look at the other area teams.
ABINGTON FRIENDS
2019 record: 4-9
Returning Starters: Grace Sousa competed at No. 1 singles, Sr.; Bella Washington-Vasquez, Sr.; Zoe Gittleman, Sr.; Cydney Brown, Sr.; Lily Goldstein, Jr.; Bella Mele, Jr.
Outlook: Graduated three seniors but do return four varsity players, including Sousa at No. 1.
GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Head Coach: Jonathan Freeman
Last Year’s Record: 4-2
Returning Starters: Maisy Betancourt, Grace Petersohn, Josie Munson, Ellee Segal, Clarissa Smith, Ava Toren, Brook Ashdale, Alexa Bear, Saanvi Bhatia, Lucy Harobin, and Elaine Li.
Outlook on the Season: “This a great group of girls. They have been through several head coaching changes over the last few years. They have managed the change each year with a competitive drive and a love for the sport. COVID and unpredictable circumstances had put added challenges to the past season. These girls are great competitors, and they were able to adapt to all the changes and challenges that came with last season. They are looking forward to having a full schedule.”
METHACTON
Head Coach: Jill Walker, 4th year
Returning Starters: Alice Liang, Hana Nouaime, Irene Biju, Dru O’Brien, Angela Lian, Morgan Coupe, Carlee Dellose
Top Newcomer: Anika Suresh
Outlook: “Looking forward to a competitive season especially at the top of the singles line up as Alice and Hana return for another big season after finishing second in the doubles state tournament together last season. New freshman Anika Suresh also has entered and will become a solid 3rd singles player for the team.”
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH
Head Coach: Joy Grafenstine
Years Coaching: 9
Last Year’s Record: 14-0
Returning Starters: Dylan Conroy, junior; Beth Murray, junior; Shanele Tamulevicius, senior.
Top Newcomers: Megan Martin, junior, coming over from field hockey to play tennis this year.
Outlook on Season: Mount is looking for its 7th consecutive AACA title. It might be more challenging this year with the loss of four varsity players.
PENNRIDGE
Head Coach: Joe D’Aquito, fourth year
Returning Starters: Anoushka Batt, Jayne Lafty, Yvan Phan, Elizabeth Fronstin, Emily Jo.
Outlook: The Rams have experience returning in singles players Phan, Fronstin and Jo and coupled with second team all-league doubles players Batt and Lafty expectations are on the rise at Pennridge.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH
Head Coach: Al Collins, 12th year
Record in 2020: 5-8
Top Newcomers: Ashlyn Dubin, Elise Barbay
Outlook on Season: Young team with potential.
SOUDERTON
Head Coach: Josh Myers, 4th year.
Last Year’s Record: 5-6
Returning Starters: Amanda Yang, Vaidehi Patel, Bridget Magee, Allison Magee, Ava Saydam
Top Newcomers: Kendra Yerger (so) Avantika Manna (fr)
Outlook: “I am very excited for the 2021 tennis season,” Myers said. “We have a solid group of senior leaders who were freshmen when I first started, so I am excited to see how far they have come in their final season. I am also looking forward to watching Amanda (Yang) defend her league title in a very competitive and talented league. We have an awesome mix of experienced returners and talented incoming freshmen and sophomores. I expect to compete in every match and get 1 percent better every day.”
UPPER DUBLIN
Head Coach: Lora Ball, 1st season
Record in 2020: 4-1 (Played in league matches only)
Returning Starters: Jill Hackett, Eva Yang, Ava Trauger, Ariela Cohen, Ciara Peyton, Kaelin Penna, Willow Kaplan, Norah Alavi, Jules Perkins, Rachel Burmester, Ashley Berman
Top Newcomers: Brie Watlington
Coach’s Quote: “This group of ladies have formed an incredible bond that promises to be an exciting and fun season.”
Outlook: Ball moves over from the boys to take over the girls program. She has depth and experience behind Hackett and Yang. Ball is particularly enamored with Trauger, who has shown great strides over the summer and will take over the No. 3 singles spot.
WISSAHICKON
Head Coach: Mary Ellen Devlin, 13th year.
Top Returners: Ella Chang; Lauren Kooman; Katie Lu; Ella Sanders, Claira Baldasano, Vanessa Urzua, Tiffany Chen, Saachi Mehti.
Top Newcomers: YiYi Huang, freshman; Hannah Yum.
Outlook: Very good to say the least. Coming off a 2020 season as the District 1 second-place finisher behind Spring-Ford, the Trojans may be up to the task again. That’s with the addition of freshmen YiYi Huang and Hannah Yum. Senior Ella Chang is back and will move up to No. 1 singles, while junior Saachi Mehit moves up to No. 3 singles.
Editor’s note: All area coaches were contacted for information regarding their team.
