The 2015 All-Central League girls’ tennis teams include Main Line players on all eight spots for the first and second team singles, and four of the six first team doubles spots.

All-Central League first team singles are Sophia Sassoli (Harriton), Nina Hoog (Harriton), Simone Burde (Lower Merion) and Cassidy Landau (Conestoga).

Second team singles are Grace Hederick (Radnor), Jessica Lin (Radnor), Maddie Wood (Conestoga) and Connie Richards (Harriton).

All-Central honorable mention singles are Stella Chen (Garnet Valley), Neve Brennan (Lower Merion), Cassandra Enad (Springfield), Brit Brown (Ridley), Emma Lee (Strath Haven) and Devon DiCampli  (Marple Newtown).

All-Central League first team doubles are Amy Zhang (Conestoga), Julia Herman (Conestoga), Hannah Ashton (Conestoga), Nour Elkassabany (Conestoga), Caroline Shafer (Strath Haven) and Madison Snyder (Strath Haven).

Second team doubles are Norah Xiong (Radnor), Quinn Flannery (Radnor), Kara O’Malley (Radnor), Grace Moore (Radnor), Haley Kofsky (Lower Merion) and Sarah Lipson (Lower Merion).

All-Central League doubles honorable mention are Sarah Aboseada (Conestoga), Priya Aravindhan (Conestoga), Ruth John (Penncrest), Sarah Chang (Penncrest), Aimee Loc (Upper Darby), Le Trinh (Upper Darby), Jillian Bernstein (Haverford), Katie Burhop (Haverford), Sasha Smolyansky (Radnor), Meg Reid (Radnor), Alina Liang (Garnet Valley), Abby Goldbach (Garnet Valley), Chloe Spergel (Lower Merion) and Holly Yu (Lower Merion).

Ten Agnes Irwin seniors have committed to continuing their athletic careers in college, representing 15 percent of the Class of 2016. Eight athletes will play at the Division I level, marking the school’s largest group of Division I recruits in the past 10 years.

“We are extremely proud of this group of student-athletes and all they have accomplished,” said AIS Athletics Director Sheila Pauley. “To have 15% of the senior class recruited speaks volumes about their work ethic and commitment to their respective sport.”

The group of 10 includes recent National Letter of Intent signees Rosie Kalis (field hockey – Miami University) and Sarah Platt (lacrosse – University of Virginia); five lacrosse players who have verbally committed to Ivy League schools; two verbally-committed Division III athletes, Ginny Ulichney (volleyball – Tufts University) and Camille Smukler (tennis – Amherst College); and Claire Micheletti, who plans to sign her National Letter of Intent in February to play soccer at Colgate University.

“Agnes Irwin is fortunate to have such good role models for our younger student-athletes,” Pauley said. “ AIS has benefited tremendously from their dedication to our programs.”
This year’s anticipated recruits from Agnes Irwin are: Kristin Burnetta, Harvard – lacrosse (verbal commit); Emily Fryer, Brown – lacrosse  (verbal commit); Rosie Kalis, Miami University (Ohio) – field hockey; Hannah Keating, Harvard – lacrosse (verbal commit); Claire Micheletti, Colgate – soccer (verbal commit); Laura Pansini, Princeton – lacrosse (verbal commit); Sarah Platt, University of Virginia – lacrosse; Camille Smukler, Amherst – tennis (verbal commit); Ginny Ulichney, Tufts – volleyball (verbal commit); and Kate White, Dartmouth – lacrosse (verbal commit).

The senior captain was considered the sparkplug of Episcopal Academy’s InterAc champion girls’ tennis team. The No. 1 singles player, an All-Inter-Ac and All-Delco selection, “always came up big when we needed her,” according to EA girls’ tennis head coach Whit Powell.

Q: What do you think has been your best match of your Episcopal Academy tennis career? What was particularly working well for you that day?

A: My best match while at Episcopal was my first league match this year against Penn Charter’s No. 1 singles player. I played with a lot of confidence and consistency. Instead of tensing up in the third set tiebreaker, I relaxed and focused on playing my own game instead of playing my opponent’s game and I was serving well. It was also the deciding match for the team win and kept us in play for defending our inter-ac title.

Q: As the No. 1 singles player for EA, how did you see your leadership role on the squad, and how did you best try to display leadership?

A: Although I was the No.1 singles this year, my position was not any more important than any other position on our ladder. My leadership came from being a senior and having experience on the team. The most effective way I tried to displayed leadership was through my attitude on court during matches and during practice. We were often put into high pressure situations, whether it was close matches or in front of big crowds. To comfort the team I would always tell them “Pressure is a privilege” (Billie Jean King), be confident when you’re on the court, and most importantly work hard for every point.

Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game?

A: The strongest part of my game has always been my forehand. I have spent a great deal of time trying to perfect my technique and accuracy to the best of my ability.

Q: What part of your game are you currently working on the most?

A: I am currently working on my serve. I am building up my consistency and my confidence in my serve, because after all it is the only way I can begin a point.

Q: What did you think of this year’s EA-Agnes Irwin Day? Can you share with us your most vivid memory of that day?

A: This year was by far the most special out of the last five that I have competed in. Definitely a bitter-sweet moment, but it will be the most memorable because I was able to defeat AIS’ No. 1 singles player [Camille Smukler] for the first time in the past five years. This match was the best way to end my high-school tennis career alongside of my amazing teammates. My most vivid memory of the day is definitely the crowd. On typical match days our team doesn’t get such a large crowd, but on that day, all I saw was a flood of blue and white. Seeing the crowd filled my heart with pride and joy to be a part of Episcopal. I was motivated even more as I saw the lower schoolers hanging on to the fence screaming my name alongside my teachers, friends, and peers. It was truly the best experience ever.

Q: What (to you) has been the most memorable experience of your tennis career outside of EA? Can you share that experience with us?

A: My most memorable experience outside of Episcopal would have to be at an ATA national tournament in Atlanta, Georgia. I was playing for third or fourth place and I was down a set 6-0, 3-0. After realizing my opponent hadn’t been completely truthful in most of her calls I decided to call a line judge. I lost the next game, but miraculously I turned it around and won the set 7-5. I went on to win the next set 6-0 to place third in the tournament. I showed the most grit I think I ever have in that one match. It taught me to fight harder and to never give up.

Q: Who are your favorite tennis players? Do you try to pattern your game after any of them?

A: Serena Williams has been my favorite tennis player even before I began to play the sport. I try to emulate her in regards to her confidence and aggressiveness on the court because it shows dominance. She plays with so much grace and power that is admirable and she is definitely my role model on the court. Knowing how much pressure she is under, she always manages to overcome it.

Q: Who have been your top tennis mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from them?

A: I have had five amazing mentors that I am so grateful for. They are Lance Lee; Jon Glover; my current coach Christian Hill; my dad, Tauheed Browning; and Coach [Whit] Powell. The most valuable things that I have learned from them in regards to tennis is mindfulness on the court and meditation skills, always play with integrity, have confidence, and how it is necessary to have internal motivation to improve. Coach Powell has been extremely vital in my high school success. He has always taught that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard and to be a class act.

Q: Tell us a little about your pre-match preparation the day of a match.

A: On match days I wake up as early as possible to eat a good breakfast with protein and start hydrating. Then throughout the day I meditate. Before my match, I make sure I’m wearing my two lucky bracelets (my pink lokai bracelet, and my “humble & hungry” bracelet), I re-grip my rackets, then I do a dynamic warm up while listening to my pump up playlist, finally I take a few serves and hit on a wall if possible to be as loose as possible.

Q: What is your favorite tennis venue, and why?

A: My favorite tennis venue is definitely Legacy Youth Tennis and Education, my second home. I have been training there since I was 7 years old and those tennis courts will always hold a place in my heart. When I was 11, I had the opportunity to hit with Venus Williams. I have also had the opportunity to form lifelong relationships with my peers and coaches. Lastly, because my family is so involved at the facility. My dad is currently a coach there, my mother was the former President of the Parents’ Association, and my younger brother trains there also. This place embodies family in every sense of the word for me.

Q: What do you think you’d like to major in at college? Is there a career path that particularly appeals to you? What are your favorite colleges at the present time?

A: When I get to college I plan to major in Biology and continuing on to pursue a career in the field of medicine and specifically neuroscience. I currently like urban liberal arts schools on the east coast that value community, diversity, rigorous academics, and school spirit.

Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at EA? What sparked your interest in these activities?

A: I currently play the violin and I am a member of the school orchestra, I am also a member on the drum line, and I also participate in the Global Youth Leadership Institute. The reason I chose to be apart of the first two is because I have been playing the violin since the fourth grade and I just simply love music. I chose to be apart of GYLI because I was interested in traveling to different parts of the country and world to learn about different cultures and and further enhance my leadership skills.

Nadiyah Browning’s top picks

Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro.

TV show: House of Cards.

Movie: Les Miserables.

Pre-match pump-up song: Flawless Remix, by Beyonce.

Athlete: Serena Williams.

Person I admire most: “My mother because she works so hard and genuinely cares for other people. I admire her selflessness and her dedication to everything she does. She has always taught me to do everything with my best effort and attitude because those are the only things I can control.”

Team: Los Angeles Clippers.

Place to visit: The mall.

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)

PIAA Classifications - Girls Tennis

RADNOR >> For the last three years, Agnes Irwin’s Camille Smukler has been among the elite singles players in the Inter-Ac League, arguably the most competitive tennis league in Pennsylvania.
She was the No. 2 singles player behind 2013 Daily Times Player of the Year Ryshena Providence on the Owls’ outright Inter-Ac League championship team and had tremendous battles with Episcopal Academy’s Genevieve McCormick, the 2014 Daily Times Player of the Year, last year as Agnes Irwin and the Churchwomen shared the Inter-Ac title.
In this, her fifth year as a varsity player at Agnes Irwin, Smukler was clearly the league’s top singles player, not dropping a set during the regular season. Some underclassmen from last year’s team did not return to Agnes Irwin this fall, so the Owls did not contend for the league title, which went to Episcopal. But a young team didn’t need to look further than its No. 1 singles player to see how you compete, how you win.
That’s why Smukler is the 2015 Daily Times Player of the Year. She is joined on the All-Delco team, which is chosen by the Daily Times in consultation with county coaches, by Episcopal seniors Nadiyah Browning and Bella Echevarria, Delco Christian senior Elene Tsokilauri and Radnor junior Grace Hederick. Smukler and Browning are repeat All-Delco selections. Echevarria, Tsokilauri and Hederick appear on the team for the first time.
“In a lot of ways, there’s more pressure on you when the team is counting on you,” Smukler said as she looked back on a brilliant scholastic career at Agnes Irwin. “I guess I was playing a little more for myself this year. It was a rebuilding year for us a little. Sophie Gaddes was the only other senior besides me. Kayla Neary and Lexi Short are sophomores. They’ll be the leaders next year.”
While Agnes Irwin took its lumps team-wise, the competition at No. 1 singles throughout the league might never have been greater.
Smukler cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 decision over her fellow All-Delco Browning for one of only two points Agnes Irwin got against Episcopal. It is a measure of the intensity of the rivalry between the schools that Browning claimed a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Smukler on Agnes Irwin-EA Day, the first time Browning was able to get the best of Smukler in five years of trying.
“You want to play well every time you play, but EA, there’s something a little more there,” said Smukler, an All-Inter-Ac League selection.
Smukler got the best of Penn Charter’s talented No. 1, Brinlea LeBarge, 6-2, 6-3, and claimed a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Anne Marie Crinnion, the No. 1 singles player on a formidable Notre Dame team. When it came to Inter-Ac Tournament day, it was Baldwin’s Emma Sass who got past Browning in the semifinals to reach the No. 1 singles final, but she was no match for Smukler.
Smukler takes her work in the classroom as seriously as she does her tennis game. She will continue her academic and tennis pursuits at Amherst College, a Division III school in Massachusetts that, like Smukler, takes its academics and its tennis seriously.
Jackie Bagwell is in her 25th season as the Amherst head coach and she has guided the Jeffs to the Division III quarterfinals in 20 of the last 21 seasons, including Amherst’s first national championship in any sport in 1999.
“It’s a small school, but they’re very competitive in their league in New England (the New England Small College Athletic Conference),” Smukler said. “I was looking for an academic school first, but I wanted to keep playing tennis, too.”
She’ll study political science there, not surprising considering her dad Ken, who got her started in tennis, works on the staff of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-1, of Philadelphia.
“I was more science- and math-oriented when I was younger,” Smukler said. “But it’s political science for now. I guess I got interested in it because of what my dad does. We’ll see.”
Smukler is always trying to get better. She works with Casey Robinson and Richard Barry at the Gulph Mills Tennis Club and the brother-sister tandem of Josh and Julia Cohen at the Chirico/Cohen Tennis Academy at Green Valley Country Club, although Julia Cohen, who cracked the top 100 in the world in singles in 2012, is in very high demand as a coach in the area these days.
“I think with Josh I work with more on my mental game and Julie is more about drills and helping me with tournaments,” Smukler said.
But Amherst will be getting more than just a good singles player. Smukler brings all the intangibles, too, the things her Agnes Irwin coach, Wendy Ford, will miss the most about her.
“I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to have a player like Camille on the team for the past five years, she is a coach’s dream,” Ford said. “Her competitiveness, work ethic and leadership are just a few things that I like about Camille.
“More important, she has a kind heart and cares for others. Camille has left her mark on Agnes Irwin tennis and I know that she will do the same in her college career.”
Smukler knows the Inter-Ac battles on the tennis court and the way she has been challenged in the classroom at Agnes Irwin have her prepared for the next level.
“I love Agnes Irwin,” she said. “I’ve been on the tennis team since I was in eighth grade. We were co-champs last year and outright champions the year before that. We had a lot of success over the years. I’m anxious to continue with tennis in college.”
Amherst is getting a winner, on the tennis court and off it.

In addition to Daily Times Player of the Year Camille Smukler of Agnes Irwin, the rest of the 2015 All-Delco girls tennis team includes:
Nadiya Browning, Episcopal Academy >> A senior, Browning was 8-4 playing at first singles, helping the Churchwomen capture the Inter-Ac League title. … Browning avenged one of her losses by topping Daily Times Player of the Year Camille Smukler of Agnes Irwin, 6-1, 7-5, on EA-Agnes Irwin Day, helping the Churchwomen claim a 6-1 victory in that intense rivalry. “I’ve been playing Camille for five years and it’s the first time I beat her,” Browning said. … Finished third at first singles at the Inter-Ac Tournament after falling to Emma Sass of Baldwin in the semifinals. … Pulled out a 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 victory over Brinlea LeBarge in the Churchwomen’s tough, 4-3, victory over Penn Charter in the match that decided the Inter-Ac title. … “We had a strong team this year and wanted to go undefeated, but the rest of the league was so competitive,” said Browning, a repeat All-Delco selection. “Penn Charter was good this year, Notre Dame was strong and, of course, Agnes Irwin is always good.” … Was an All-Inter-Ac League selection. … Got to meet one of her tennis heroes recently when Serena Williams spoke in a special program at the University of Pennsylvania arranged by students promoting minority interests. … A Philadelphia resident, Browning is a product of Legacy Youth Tennis and Education where she works with Chris Hill. … Hopes to play tennis collegiately as she continues her academic pursuits.
Bella Echevarria, Episcopal Academy >> A senior, Echevarria was a versatile weapon on Whitaker Powell’s Inter-Ac League championship team, going 8-2 in doubles early in the season before going 5-0 in singles as the Churchwomen wrapped up an undefeated run through the league. … “I really wanted to play doubles early in the season because it really helps your singles,” said Echevarria. “It makes you attack better and improves your net game in singles. It turned out to be a good way to support the team.” … Reached the final at second singles at the Inter-Ac League Tournament, helping the Churchwomen grab the team title, before falling to Notre Dame’s Grace Leasure. … Also plays on the golf team at Episcopal and finished in a tie for fourth as a junior last spring at the Inter-Ac League Tournament, … Plans to study math and science in college, but is unsure if she’ll continue to play golf or tennis.
Grace Hederick, Radnor >> A junior, Hederick had a 13-4 record playing first singles for a Radnor team that qualified for the District One Class AAA Tournament before falling in the opening round to Unionville. … Moved into the Radnor School District last summer from the Atlanta area. “I wasn’t used to playing indoors for the tournaments, but there were a lot of good players and I had a lot of tough matches,” said Hederick, like many young players an admirer of Roger Federer’s game. “My forehand is definitely my strength. I like to try to put away points with the forehand or by coming to the net.” … Fell in the Central League Singles Tournament quarterfinals to eventual league champion Nina Hoog of Harriton. Defeated teammate Jessica Lin in the fifth-place match and dropped a tough, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 decision to Downingtown West’s Jordan Bradley in the opening round of the District One singles. … Teamed with Lin to finish third at the Central Doubles Tournament. They won two matches at the District One doubles before falling to eventual district champions Emma Clark and Amanda Baxter of West Chester Henderson. … Named to the All-Central singles second team.
Elene Tsokilauri, Delco Christian >> A senior, Tsokilauri won the PIAA Class AA singles title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Lin Robertson of Berks Catholic in the final. She didn’t lose a set in four matches at the Hershey Racquet Club. … Was equally dominant in winning the District One singles title, claiming a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Nazareth Academy’s Alex Vo, the defending champion and a four-time finalist, in the final. … Undefeated season also included a Bicentennial singles title. … It was the first year Tsokilauri, a native of the Republic of Georgia, played high school tennis after spending her first three years of high school at tennis academies in Florida. … The left-hander uses a big serve to set up the points. “I like to serve and stay back, but if I see a chance to come in and end the point, I’ll move up,” Tsokilauri said. … Reached the No. 1 ranking in Middle States under-16 and has represented Middle States in events like the prestigious Orange Bowl Invitational in Miami and at events in Aruba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. … Competed in the USTA Girls’ Nationals in San Diego and in the USTA Girls’ National Clay Court Nationals last summer. … Her favorite player, as is the case with many young players, is Roger Federer. … Works on her game with Kamala Kannan at the Upper Main Line YMCA and Julia Cohen, an assistant coach at Saint Joseph’s and former top-100 WTA player. … Will continue her academic and tennis careers at Boston College.

Pioneer Athletic Conference All-Academic Teams

Cheerleading

Leah Fryer, Boyertown

Pope John Paul II goalkeeper Aaron Lemma is one of three student-athletes to be named to both the Pioneer Athletic Conference All-Academic and Citizen teams.

Boys Cross Country

Girls Cross Country

Field Hockey

Football

Boys Golf

Girls Golf

Boys Soccer

Girls Soccer

Girls Tennis

Girls Volleyball

FIRST TEAM

Owen J. Roberts’ Meredith Lee

Singles

Meredith Lee, Owen J. Roberts

Junior won the Pioneer Athletic Conference singles championship and made the deepest run in the PIAA Class AAA Championships of any Mercury-area player for the second straight year by reaching the quarterfinals (semifinals in 2014). Lee also reached the District 1-AAA final and finished the season 23-3, earning her Mercury All-Area Player of the Year honors.

Mihaela Codreanu, Methacton

Senior capped her accomplished scholastic career with a second straight District 1-AAA singles championship. Codreanu, a three-time All-Area Player of the Year, reached the PAC-10 singles final and qualified for the PIAA Championships for a fourth straight season. Codreanu, who will continue her tennis career at Division I Rhode Island, was 25-4 and helped Methacton to the PAC-10 team title and the semifinals of the District 1-AAA team tournament.

Julia Gumieniak, Phoenixville

Methacton’s Mihaela Codreanu

Freshman impressed in her rookie season by finishing fourth in the PAC-10 singles tournament, reaching the second round of the District 1-AAA singles tournament and finishing 7-2 in Pioneer Athletic Conference play at No. 1 singles for the Phantoms.

Dina Nouaime, Methacton

Freshman went undefeated at No. 2 singles (9-0) for the PAC team champions and placed fifth in the Pioneer Athletic Conference singles tournament, finishing the season 17-6 while helping the Warriors to the semifinals of the District 1-AAA team tournament.

Doubles

Camryn Gelting and Delaney Kent, Owen J. Roberts

Gelting, a junior, and Kent, a freshman, teamed up in the middle of the season at No. 1 doubles (5-1 PAC) and put together a surprise run to reach the final of the Pioneer Athletic Conference doubles tournament and qualified for the District 1-AAA doubles tournament.

Phoenixville’s Julia Gumieniak

Paige MacDougall and Amanda Amornwichet, Methacton

MacDougall, a senior, and Amornwichet, a junior, went undefeated in the PAC-10 (9-0) at No. 1 doubles while helping the Warriors to the PAC-10 team championship and the semifinals of the District 1-AAA team tournament.

SECOND TEAM

Singles

Jasmine Morris, Perkiomen Valley

Tori Alexander, Spring-Ford

Elaina Lee, Owen J. Roberts

Doubles

Methacton’s Dina Nouaime

Vidisha Pandey and Sara Maute, Owen J. Roberts

Caitlyn Hart/Bianca Caresosa, Spring-Ford

Alejandra Castaneda/Rachael Dorn, Methacton

Liza George/Maria George, Methacton

HONORABLE MENTION

Owen J. Roberts: Jacey Caplan

Methacton: Sydney Thompson, Katie Benson

Perkiomen Valley: Allison Newman

Owen J. Roberts’ Delany Kent (near) and Camryn Gelting

Phoenixville: Ashlyn Duda, Meghan O’Neill

Pope John Paul II: Kathryn Alvarez, Hailey Miller, Dominique Marrecau

Spring-Ford: Samantha Pollock, Elise DiGuiseppe, Camryn Jones, Madelyn Morris

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jerry Styer, Owen J. Roberts

Styer, in his 45th year coaching the Wildcats, saw his team rise up to push perennial Pioneer Athletic Conference powerhouse Methacton for the conference team title, settling for a runner-up 8-1 league finish while supporting junior Meredith Lee’s postseason that included the PAC-10 singles championship, a District 1-AAA finals appearance and place in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals.

Jerry Styer has seen and coached countless players in more than four decades coaching tennis at Owen J. Roberts.

It would be impossible to remember the first time he saw each of them play.

When it comes to Meredith Lee, it’s impossible to forget.

“I first saw her when she was 8 years old. Owen J. Roberts had a Junior Team Tennis-format team back in 2007 that I helped coach,” Styer said. “That year they made the regionals and we were at Arthur Ashe (now Legacy in Philadelphia). Meredith was playing for another team and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. She was this little kid playing against high school kids, her face was red, she was dehydrated, playing her heart out.”

Lee has delivered many more unforgettable moments in the past three years since joining the Owen J. Roberts girls tennis team.

In her first two years of high school tennis, the Owen J. Roberts junior reached the Pioneer Athletic Conference final both years and advanced to the semifinals of the PIAA Class AAA Championships as a sophomore.

This fall, she outdid herself. Lee became the PAC-10 singles champion, unseating three-time champion Mihaela Codreanu of Methacton. She proceeded to reach the District 1-AAA final and made the deepest run at the PIAA Championships of any area player for the second year in a row, earning her Mercury All-Area Girls Tennis Player of the Year honors.

“I saw a big change this year,” Styer said. “The beginning of this season she was stronger, her wrist was stronger and you could see the confidence in it and in the way she was striking her backhand. It was clear she’s taken a step forward. She’s bigger, stronger, smarter. She’s putting it all together.”

Putting it all together didn’t come overnight. Lee has consistently played in USTA junior tournaments since she was 8 and trains multiple times per week to improve her game.

When the high school tennis season rolls around, it isn’t the centerpiece of her tennis year. Instead, for the OJR junior, it’s the fun portion.

“The high school matches and postseason are much less stress than tournament matches,” Lee said, citing the ever-present, ever-changing USTA rankings that affect a top junior player’s status.
“(In high school) I feel like I play more loose, with less stress. The high school postseason is kind of like a bonus, a prize.”

The rivalry between Lee and Methacton senior Codreanu, the All-Area Player of the Year the previous three years, has been a defining one in the PAC-10, two players operating on a different wavelength than the rest of the competition since each joined the high school ranks.

The rivalry was firmly one-sided, though. Codreanu got the better of Lee in their first four meetings while representing their schools, including the 2013 and 2014 PAC-10 singles finals.

No matter the outcome, Oct. 5 was going to be a day unlike any other. Codreanu and Lee were set to meet in the PAC-10 singles final in the morning and take the court against one another again in the afternoon during the postponed team match between Methacton and Owen J. Roberts.

It was a defining day in Lee’s progression.

“I was playing really loosely and it was a day where I didn’t have to think, I was able to just act and hit good shots,” Lee said.

The OJR junior’s all-court game was on full display as Lee used a 6-3, 6-2 victory to dismiss the past letdowns against Codreanu. The afternoon match was less satisfying – Codreanu retired due to illness after three games – but it couldn’t take the shine off for Lee as she capped an unbeaten PAC season without dropping a set. (Her win over Codreanu couldn’t tip the scale in the Wildcats’ favor as Methacton held off OJR 4-3 to retain the PAC-10 team title.)

“It was really exciting. It’s a milestone to beat someone who has always beaten you and usually has a leg up on you,” Lee said. “It doesn’t happen often so you have to cherish it when it does.”

Her commitment to the sport is rooted with coach Marc Pibernat at High Performance Tennis Academy in Bala Cynwynd, where she trains four times a week.

“We do a lot,” Lee said, including her younger sister, Elaina Lee, who featured at No. 2 singles for the Wildcats this season. “A lot of my friends practice with me so it’s extra motivation. And of course I wanted to get better and of course I want to win and you can’t win without practicing.”

That goes without mentioning the USTA junior tournaments. In the past year she has competed in tournaments in Pittsburgh, Virginia, Oklahoma and even Belgium, where the family carved out some time for tennis during their vacation in Europe.

Her dedication has crafted a rare all-court game that flies in the face of the all-baseline, all-the-time groundstroke game most of her contemporaries employ. Lee’s game features a heavy top-spin forehand, one-handed backhand – a rarity even on the WTA tour – slice backhand and comfort inside the court on approach shots and volleys.

She is also involved with the Down the Line and Beyond Foundation – an organization that uses tennis for character-building and outreach – as a Junior Ambassador.

The highly-competitive tournament feel of districts and states is where Lee feels at home.

She took a step forward this season by reaching the District 1-AAA final, getting there without dropping a set.

During the two-week break between the first three rounds of the District 1 tournament and the final, Lee stayed sharp and loose by playing in the Junior Team Tennis 18U Advanced national championships in Cayce, S.C.

“It’s a team we made at the last minute and thought we had a good chance to make nationals. It was a lot of fun: you get to hang out with your friends, play some good tennis and meet a lot of new people from all around the country,” Lee said.

A rematch with Codreanu, the reigning champion, in the District 1 final at Legacy in Philadelphia was a drama-filled, push-and-pull affair between arguably the two best players in PAC history.

“I actually prefer that environment to something more loose,” Lee said. “I find that I’m more focused when I’m intense. My head was really in it.”

Lee led in both sets by being the aggressor and striking her forehand with authority throughout. But the consistency of Codreanu’s groundstrokes won the day, 6-4, 7-5, the Methacton senior claiming a second straight district title.

At the PIAA Championships in Hershey, Lee rolled past Central’s Gabrielle Garrett 6-0, 6-2 and into the quarterfinals only to be drawn into the unenviable place of meeting defending champion Ananya Dua of Shady Side Academy, the player that ended Lee’s sophomore run in the semifinals.

“The tournament really condenses into the hardcore tournament players and that’s when you have to really focus and grind. Second round I had to play Ananya Dua. She has that experience and shots that never fail. She knows how to get it done and you can’t count on her going away.”

After a close first set, Dua asserted herself in the second set and ousted Lee, 6-4, 6-1 before going on to become back-to-back PIAA Class AAA champion.

Lee finished the season 23-3, her only defeats coming to seniors. With another year of eligibility, Lee doesn’t plan on being done with her progression.

“In terms of the state level, a lot of those top players will be gone (through graduation). Hopefully I can place at states this coming year,” Lee said.

She’s already in rare air.

“She’s the best girl. Absolutely,” Styer said when asked where Lee ranks among the players he’s coached. “She’s absolutely head and shoulders above all the girls that have been here.”

The fall 2015 Main Line high school girls’ tennis campaign featured many outstanding performances that included three league championships.
Episcopal Academy (12-2) won the Inter-Ac title, marking the 13th time in the last 15 years that they won or shared the league championship; Conestoga (15-1) won the Central League for the seventh consecutive year and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA state quarterfinals; and Friends’ Central (11-7) captured the Friends’ Schools League crown for the first time since 2008.
Harriton, Lower Merion, Radnor (15-2), Academy of Notre Dame (9-2), Baldwin (10-5), Agnes Irwin (6-3), Shipley (12-5) and Villa Maria Academy (10-4) also turned in strong performances with Harriton advancing to the PIAA Class AAA state semi-finals (with freshmen in the top three singles spots), and Radnor and Lower Merion qualifying for the PIAA District One Class AAA tournament. Notre Dame finished tied for second in the Inter-Ac.
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 2015 All-Main Line high school girls’ tennis teams:

FIRST TEAM

Anne Marie Crinnion, Academy of Notre Dame – Senior first singles player was an All-InterAc selection, and provided leadership for a strong Irish squad.
Grace Leasure, Academy of Notre Dame – Junior second singles posted a 9-1 record, was an All-InterAc selection, and won the second singles flight at the InterAc Championships.
McKenna Bramlage, Academy of Notre Dame – Freshman third singles player posted a 10-0 record, was an All-InterAc selection, and won the third singles title at the InterAc Championships.
Camille Smukler, Agnes Irwin – Junior first singles player and co-captain posted an 8-0 record at the top spot for a strong Owls squad and was an All-InterAc selection.
Emma Sass, Baldwin School – Junior first singles player posted a 10-4 record at the top spot for a strong Baldwin team, and was an All-InterAc selection.
Lauren Wang, Baldwin School – Sophomore second singles player posted a strong won-loss record in the league, and was an All-InterAc selection, one of only two Polar Bears selected.
Hannah Ashton, Conestoga – Senior tri-captain posted 18-3 record, was the Pioneers’ co-MVP and made first team All-Central League doubles. Second doubles player was valued for her leadership and intelligent, level-headed play.
Nour Elkassabany, Conestoga – Senior tri-captain posted 18-3 record, was the Pioneers’ co-MVP and made first team All-Central League doubles. Second doubles player was valued for her intelligence and leadership.
Maddie Wood, Conestoga – Sophomore second singles posted 16-5 record, made second team All-Central League singles, and won the Central League doubles tournament. Placed second in the PIAA District One doubles tournament, reached the quarterfinals of the PIAA state doubles tourney and was valued for her never-say-die attitude.
Cassidy Landau, Conestoga – Freshman first singles player won 16 matches, placed third in the Central League singles tournament and reached the second round of the District One singles tourney. A first team All-Central League singles player, she was valued for her boundless energy.
Eloise Nimoityn, Episcopal Academy – Junior second doubles posted 14-0 record and was InterAc champion at second doubles. Was on the All-InterAc team and the second team All-Delco squad.
Emily Beinkampen, Episcopal Academy – Junior second doubles posted 14-0 record and was InterAc champion at second doubles. Was on the All-InterAc team and the second team All-Delco squad.
Nadiyah Browning, Episcopal Academy – Senior captain and first singles player is a five-time InterAc champion, and is on the All-InterAc squad.
Bella Echavarria, Episcopal Academy – Senior first doubles and second doubles player was runnerup in the InterAc Tournament. An All-Delco first team selection, she was undefeated at second singles.
Zoe Ginsberg, Friends’ Central – Junior first singles and captain, a first team All-Friends Schools League selection, was Friends’ Central’s MVP and was considered the heart and soul of the Phoenix. Valued for her focus and team-first mentality.
Skye Victor, Friends’ Central – Freshman posted 11-4 record at second singles, and displayed a high level of skill, receiving All-Friends’ Schools League honors for her play this fall.
Sophia Sassoli, Harriton – Freshman first singles player was overpowering in Central League play, posting a 9-0 record and winning every set in the Central circuit and making the All-Central League first team for singles.
Connie Richards, Harriton – Freshman second singles couldn’t be beat in Central League play, posting an 8-0 record in the Central loop and winning all but one set. Was one of only four players selected for All-Central League second team singles (first team had four players also).
Nina Hoog, Harriton – Freshman third singles posted a 7-0 record in the Central League, winning every set. She then won the Central League singles championship, was on All-Central League singles first team and advanced to the round of 16 in PIAA state singles tournament.
Simone Burde, Lower Merion – First singles player posted a 13-4 record at the top spot, made first team All-Central League singles, finished second at the Central League singles tournament, and was a qualifier for the PIAA District One tourney.
Grace Hederick, Radnor – Junior first singles was the Red Raiders’ MVP, posting a 13-4 record, and making first team All-Delco as well as second team All-Central League.
Jessica Lin, Radnor – Junior second singles player posted a sterling 14-2 record on strong Radnor squad, and made second team All-Central League.
Britt Lovett, Shipley – Senior first singles and co-captain posted 12-4 record at the top spot (6-1 Friends’ Schools League) for strong Gators’ squad and received All-FSL honors for her fine play this fall.
McKinley Lovett, Shipley – Senior second singles and co-captain posted 15-1 record at the No. 2 spot (7-0 Friends’ Schools League) for strong Gators’ squad and received All-FSL honors for her fine play this fall.
Reagan Hatcher, Villa Maria Academy – Senior second singles was the Hurricanes’ Most Valuable Player, posting an 11-3 record, making the league’s all-star team, and capturing both the PIAA Class AA District One doubles championship and AACA doubles title.
Kate Sweeney, Villa Maria Academy – Senior first singles held down the top spot for a strong Hurricanes squad, then showed her versatlity in capturing both the PIAA Class AA District One doubles championship and AACA doubles title.

SECOND TEAM

Academy of Notre Dame – Audrey Hart, senior first doubles; Caroline Mackay, sophomore first doubles.
Agnes Irwin – Lexi Short, sophomore second singles; Kayla Neary, sophomore third singles.
Archbishop Carroll – Yvonne Lewis, senior first singles.
Baldwin School – Arianna Hairston, junior first doubles; Julia Greitzer, senior first doubles.
Conestoga – Julia Herman, senior first doubles; Amy Zhang, sophomore first doubles; Ashley Griffith, freshman third singles.
Episcopal Academy – Kaity Tarte, senior first doubles.
Harriton – Sofia Kandoussi, sophomore first doubles; Lauren Binnion, freshman first doubles.
Haverford High – Katie Burhop, senior first doubles; Jillian Bernstein, junior first doubles.
Lower Merion – Sarah Lipson, second doubles; Haley Kofsky, second doubles.
Radnor – Alice Lehr, senior third singles; Norah Xiong, senior first doubles; Quinn Flannery, junior first doubles; Kara O’Malley, senior second doubles; Grace Moore, junior second doubles.
Villa Maria Academy – Cecilia Logan, sophomore third singles; Brenna Murray, junior first doubles; Kaylee Ouimet, senior first doubles.

HONORABLE MENTION

Academy of Notre Dame – Mackenzie Irvine, junior fourth doubles; Sarah Crinnion, sophomore fourth doubles.
Baldwin School – Davis Madeja, senior third doubles; Dagny Tepper, junior third doubles; Alexa Bartels, junior second doubles.
Villa Maria Academy – Alli Monaco, senior second doubles; Jacquelyn Shanley, junior second doubles.

Note: Barrack Hebrew Academy and Sacred Heart did not submit a completed All-Main Line girls’ tennis ballot.

In recent seasons, it’s been a safe bet that the tennis matches between Upper Dublin, Cheltenham and Wissahickon had a lot riding on them.

That figures to be the case again this season as the three teams look to contend for the Suburban One League American Conference title. Upper Dublin currently holds the crown, but longtime coach Carol Hackenbracht knows the Panthers and Trojans have the lineups to contend for the crown. Throw in two new teams in Quakertown and Hatboro-Horsham and there are a few new hurdles on the road to that title.

In the case of the Cardinals and Trojans, there’s a lot of youth in a lot of places, meaning both lineups look built to be good not only this year, but going forward. Wissahickon and Upper Dublin meet at Wiss on Sept. 1. Upper Dublin visits Cheltenham on Sept. 15 while Wissahickon visits the Panthers on Sept. 9.

Doubles looks to be a big strength for both Wiss and UD while both teams will have some talent in the singles lineups. UD sophomore Ksenija Tasich is back at No. 1 singles after taking second in the conference tournament last year. Joining here at No. 2 is sophomore Erin Hackett and at No. 3, freshman Skylar Richman.

The Pioneer Athletic Conference is getting two new squads in Norristown and Upper Merion and the Vikings are looking to build off last year’s 6-7 season. Four-year starter Amy Phanthavong is the team’s veteran leader in singles play. Upper Merion and Norristown join a league where Methacton has been a presence in recent seasons.

But the Warriors and coach Cathy Miller will have some major cogs to replace off last year’s PAC champ and fourth-place District I finisher. The largest gap to fill is at No. 1 singles where Mihaela Codreanu graduated after a stellar career that saw her win three straight PAC singles titles, back-to-back District I singles titles and finish second in the state as a sophomore.

Paige MacDougal, Alejandra Castaneda, Liza and Maria George are losses in the doubles lineup but Miller said last year’s JV team was successful and those players are pushing to make it a quick rebuild.

Other teams, like Abington, are hoping to return to form and in the Galloping Ghosts’ case, go after an SOL National title.

With a good mix of established players and some young but well-versed faces across the board, expect some quality tennis in the area this fall.

ABINGTON
Last Season: 7-6.
Head Coach: Kristy Ashcraft, 13th season.
Assistant Coaches: Nancy Levin and Phil Kelly.
Notable Losses: Maura Waldner, Maggie Stock, Lindsey Quigley, Lexi Merrigan.
Returning Athletes/Athletes to Watch: Ellen Ruch, Leana Perumaly, Aichatou Haidara, Colette Carosella, Chloe Barmat, Lauryn Levette, Sami Gable, Emily Goldfarb, Lily Sellei, Zora Levette, Arden Weilheimer, Megan Quigley.
Key Matches: Pennsbury, CR North, CR South.
Team Outlook/Expectations: “With lots of returning experience, hard work and talent, we are looking to reclaim the SOL National Conference Championship.”

ARCHBISHOP WOOD
Last Season: 7-1 in PCL league.
Head Coach: Bob Salembier, 12th season.
Notable Losses: Sarah Lightner league MVP.
Athletes to Watch: Freshman Jess Firriolo, junior Kylie Corless.
Key matches: at Cardinal O’hara, Bishop Carroll at Wood.
Outlook: Losing the PCL MVP is a big hole to fill at the top of the Vikings lineup but there’s a good amount of players returning and Firriolo seems ready to jump right in somewhere and contend for match wins.

METHACTON
Last Season: 17-4, 9-0 PAC-10.
Head Coach: Cathy Miller, 8th season.
Notable Loses: Mihaela Codreanu -1st Singles, Paige MacDougal -1st Doubles, Alejandra Castaneda-3rd doubles, Liza and Maria George- 4th Doubles.
Athletes to Watch: Soph. Dina Nouaime – singles, Sr. Sydnie Markowitz- Singles, Sr Amanda Amornwichet- Singles/Doubles, Sr. Katie Benson- Doubles, Sr. Sydney Thompson-Doubles and Junior Rachel Dorn- Doubles, Sophomore Tina Prince-Singles, Sr. Harleen Suri- Doubles, Freshman Karen Li- Singles.
Outlook: “Graduating 5 starters puts us in a rebuilding mode. At singles, replacing Mihaela Codreanu ( State Silver Medalist ’13, District 1 Singles Champ ’14, ’15, PAC 10 Singles Champ ’13, ’14, ’15) will be a challenge, however the returning experienced players are working hard to solidify their singles spots. The doubles teams are a work in progress. We are looking at strong players from last season’s winning JV teams as well as newcomers to step up and fill the vacant spots.”

HATBORO-HORSHAM
Head Coach: Michelle McGill, 1st season.
Assistant Coaches: Melissa Spinosa.
Notable Losses: Lost nine seniors from last year.
Athletes to Watch: Antonette Spinosa, Faith Ehrlich, Olivia Hirt.
Key Matches: Upper Moreland (Tuesday, Aug. 30) and Springfield (Thursday, Sept. 15).
Outlook: “This is a team that will be one in which a strong foundation is built from a strong group of incoming freshmen and returning players who will guide this team’s direction for years to come. The team will look to make its mark on the American League in its first year. We fully expect that these girls will develop a chemistry that will help create a competitive, yet fun, atmosphere the entire school can get behind.”

NORTH PENN
Last Season: 7-6, 5-2 SOL
Head Coach: Kristina Maxwell-Alling (2nd season)
Assistant Coaches: Renee Didomizio
Notable Losses: Leanne Bollard, Sarah Jensen
Athletes to Watch: 1st singles: Neha Velaga (freshman), 2nd singles: Karley Alling (soph), 3rd singles: Elise Hurry (soph) Returning doubles players: Erin Hurry (sr), Jess Szuchan (sr), Sara Stavely ( jr), Olivia Hauser (jr), singles players, Neha Velaga and Karley Alling Doubles players, seniors Erin Hurry and Jess Szuchan
Key Matches: Phoenixville Play for the Cure tournament Aug. 26, CB West Aug. 30, Methacton Sept. 2, CB East Sept. 14.
Outlook: “Optimistic about the season. We’ve lost two seniors (Leanne Bollard and Sarah Jensen) who were our 1st and 2nd singles players. But, we’ve got an excellent freshman playing first singles and my returning varsity players worked hard in the off-season.”

PENNRIDGE
Last Season: 10-3.
Head Coach: Frank Flanagan, 3rd season.
Assistant Coaches: Nicole Marchese.
Notable Losses: None.
Returning Athletes/Athletes to Watch: Katrina Janeczko, Ylan Phan, Victoria Hanus, Kaitlyn Harries
Key Matches: CB South, North Penn, CB West.
Outlook: “Put a competitive team out there, work hard, get some great wins, have a fun season.”

SOUDERTON
Last Season: 5-4.
Head Coach: Alexandra Aiken, first season.
Assistant Coaches: Maggie Horvath.
Team Outlook/Expectations: “I am very excited about the outlook for our season. Our team has an excellent vibe and I am confident that we will have a successful season. Our large group of seniors is helping to build a strong confident base to our season. We also have a few freshman rising to the top that are going to mix up our line up. There is a battle for our 3 singles positions going on now that hasn’t been determined yet.”

UPPER DUBLIN
Last Season: 12-1; Suburban One League American Conference champion.
Head Coach: Carol Hackenbracht
Asst. Coach: Carla DiMuzio
Notable Losses: Lauren Cheifetz, Sydney Tress
Returning Athletes and New Ones to Watch: Ksenija Tasich, Erin Hackett, Skylar Richman, Amanda Yang, Belinda Jin, Ann Liu, Lea Mangifesta and LeeAnn Raynor
Key Matches: Wissahickon and Cheltenham.
Outlook: Tasich took second in the league singles tournament as a freshman and returns as the Cardinals’ No. 1. Hackett, a sophomore and Richman, a freshman will play 2 and 3 singles. The team’s doubles lineup should be strong. Rounding out and bolstering the line-up are returning players senior Annie Steinbrink, sophomore Annabelle Laughlin, as well as freshman Jess Cheifetz.

UPPER MERION
Last Season: 6-7.
Head Coach: Phillipe David, 4th season.
Assistant Coaches: Patricia Ehret
Notable: Sara Dang, Caitlin Dwinnell.
Returning Athletes/Athletes to watch: Amy Phanthavong, Minali Tare, Sahar Islam.
Key Matches: “We are in a new league this year (the PAC) so all of our league matches will be key.”
Team Outlook/Expectations: “I am hoping that we can build on our record last year and have a better record in the league as well.” The Vikings have a four-year starter in Phanthavong at No. 1 singles and Tare and Islam will step into the No. 2 and 3 spots respectively.

UPPER MORELAND
Last Season: 4-6
Head Coach: Kristin Summers, 2nd season
Athletes to Watch: Jocelyn Curet, Zoe Wolfenson, Hannah Stainback
Outlook: “We graduated 7 players last year. This season is a rebuilding one. Our team is young and our players are enthusiastic and ready for the season.”

WILLIAM TENNENT
Last Season: 5-8
Head Coach: Molly Leahy, 11th season.
Assistant Coaches: John Senske, Jerry Nagahashi.
Notable Losses: Six seniors who graduated.
Returning athletes/Athletes to Watch: Junior Erica Adamczyk, Sophomores Sarah Glass and Zoe Khodak, and Freshmen Taylor Weidman and Elisa Steinhardt.
Key Matches:  Hatboro Horsham Sept. 8 and Upper Moreland Sept. 29.
Outlook: “We’re excited to have a great turn-out from our 9th graders, and we have several sophomores who really worked on their game in the off-season. The new conference for us means we will play new teams, so there is a lot of change this season.”

WISSAHICKON
Last Season: 12-4
Head Coach: Mary Ellen Devlin, 9th season
Key Returning Players: sophomores Julia Friedenberg and Jenny Landells, juniors Rachel Flame,Samantha Sullivan, and Lauren Kang, and seniors Sasha Iakimenko, Emily Richmond and Alycia Lee who will round out the Doubles.
Outlook: “With key singles positions and top doubles roles assumed by underclassmen Wissahickon’s young squad looks promising. Last year’s league loss to rival Upper Dublin and talented Cheltenham team promises to be interesting as a young squad acquired experience which will be key to this season’s success.”

Top Photo:  North Penn High School tennis coach Kristina Maxwell-Alling works with athletes at practice on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Leaders have emerged for Wissahickon, working in tandem.

“I really liked how my partner, Sam, and I — we pushed through emotionally and mentally,” said Trojan senior Sasha Iakimenko. “I was really proud of how we played — we played really well, especially in the first set. And emotionally we pulled through.”

Wissahickon’s doubles teams won all four of their matches, leading the way to a 6-1 opening-day win over Lower Merion on a sunny Wednesday morning at Wiss.

Iakimenko, recently elected co-captain, helps provide valuable leadership on a team filled with newcomers.

Said Iakimenko of taking on a bigger role this year: “It feels like there’s more responsibility and people believe in me and look up to me, and I find that really comforting. I really appreciate it.

“It’s my senior year so it’s really exciting, and we have a lot of new, good girls. I think we’re gonna have a good year.”

Sullivan and Iakimenko took the first set 6-1 and then powered their way to a 6-3 win to prevail in straight sets. Wiss’ doubles teams were in control, in fact taking every match in straight sets.

Rachel Flame and Julia Friedenberg did the same for the Trojans at No. 2 and No. 3 singles.

“I’m pleased because this is the first match, non-league against a formidable team, and everybody showed up and competed well,” Wiss coach Mary Ellen Devlin said. “In the first spot, (Jenny Landells) came back from a 2-5 deficit to go 5-7, against a seasoned senior (in Simone Burde), a No. 1 player all four years. So that’s pretty good.

“And the doubles teams, starting with Sasha and Sam at first, set a strong tone for serve and volley, with aggressive returns. Those are the key elements that are gonna come into play as the competition increases.”

The season gets going in a hurry for the Trojans, who open up Suburban One League American Conference play Thursday at home against Springfield Montco. They then travel to PW Tuesday before taking on rival Upper Dublin in a pivotal match at Wiss Sept. 1.

Wednesday provided a solid start.

“It’s a strong group of girls in as much as team — team first,” Devlin said. “And it was a good tone set by our doubles, which is nice. Because our singles are young experience-wise.”

Burde got the win at the No. 1 spot for the Aces, who usually give the Trojans quite a battle on opening day but are in the process of grooming some youngsters.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Aces coach Dave O’Connell said, “especially on the doubles end. But I thought my No. 2 and 3 singles would play a lot better. It’s a great group of kids. I tell them all the time that I wouldn’t trade them for any other team.

“We have a lot of work to do because we’re in a tough league (Central League). We have Harriton, Radnor and Conestoga to try to get above to even get in districts. And they’re all good teams. Too many unforced errors today, but it’s the first match.”

Wissahickon 6, Lower Merion 1
Singles: Simone Burde (LM) def. Jenny Landells 6-0, 7-5; Rachel Flame (W) def. Neve Brennan 6-0, 6-0; Julia Friedenberg (W) def. Christine Bermudez 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Samantha Sullivan-Sasha Iakimenko (W) def. Sarah Lipson-Haley Kursky 6-1, 6-3; Lauren Kang-Christie Yang (W) def. Holly Yu-Chloe Spercel 6-4, 6-1; Alycia Lee-Elizabeth Kooman (W) def. Kloe Rosenberg-Sarah Beller-Crossman 6-0, 6-1; Emily Richman-Morgan Solomon (W) def. Tiffany Wieh-Aasha Guper 6-3, 6-3.

The Main Line high school girls’ tennis scene this fall should feature a good number of strong teams. Coming off particularly noteworthy 2015 campaigans are Conestoga (19-3 overall, undefeated Central League champions, PIAA state quarterfinalist) and Episcopal Academy (12-2 overall, undefeated InterAc champions). Other squads that enjoyed highly successful seasons in 2015 included Academy of Notre Dame, Friends’ Central, Harriton, Radnor and Shipley.
What follows are previews of the Main Line high school girls’ tennis teams:

Academy of Notre Dame
Head coach: Steven Hall, ninth year.
Last year’s record: 9-2 overall, 4-2 Inter-Ac.
Key returnees: senior Grace Leasure (was second singles last fall), sophomore McKenna Bramlage (third singles last year), junior Caroline Mackay (first doubles last fall).
Others to watch: junior Natalie Hughes (second doubles last year), junior Adrianna Bull (second doubles last year), senior McKenzie Irvine (fourth doubles last fall), junior Sarah Crinnion (fourth doubles last fall).
Lost to graduation: first singles Anne Marie Crinnion, first doubles Audrey Hart, third doubles Rachel Weber and Darby Smith.
Outlook: Hall said, “I believe we will have one of the strongest singles lineups in the Inter-Ac this year. Our doubles teams are another year sharper in both skill level and tennis IQ, and so I believe our team will come out of the gates swinging. Our biggest challenge will be figuring out which combination of players works best at third and fourth doubles.”

Agnes Irwin
Head coach: Wendy Short.
Last year’s record: 6-3 overall, 3-3 Inter-Ac.
Key returnees: junior third singles Kayla Neary, junior second singles Alexis Short.
Others to watch: eighth-grader Ruthie Mjagi.
Lost to graduation: first singles Camille Smukler (Amherst).
Short said, “I am once again looking forward to a great season. We had some challenges last year but we will continue to find ways to develop and improve. Our freshman class have some promising players who I think can have an immediate impact.”

Archbishop Carroll
Head coach: Brady Kramer, first year.
Last year’s record: 5-6.
Key returnees: junior third singles Sarah Grosso, junior second singles Keli Lubiejewski, senior second doubles Emily Frohner, junior first doubles Jenna Sala, junior second doubles Margeaux Pawlec, sophomore Isabel Angelicho, sophomore Leia Dempsey, junior Deidre Dolan.
Others to watch: sophomore first singles Tess Humes, junior first doubles Katie Detwiler, sophomore Julia Downs, sophomore Grace Ewing, freshman Cecilia Frohner.
Lost to graduation: Yvonne Lewis.
Outlook: Kramer, who is also Carroll’s athletic director, said, “This team promises to be an exciting one. We have several key returning starters as well as multiple solid additions. Our depth will be our greatest strength.”

Baldwin School
Head coach: Jeff Sacks, 11th year.
Last year’s record: 10-5 overall, 3-3 InterAc.
Key returnees: senior first singles Emma Sass, junior second singles Lauren Wang, senior first doubles Ari Hairston, senior second doubles Alexa Bartels, junior second doubles Caroline Buchner, senior third doubles Dagney Tepper, sophomore fourth doubles Akexis Shatzman.
Others to watch: junior Francesca Douglas (studied abroad last year – played first JV singles in 2014).
Lost to graduation: third singles Isabel Senior, first doubles Julia Greitzer, third doubles Davis Madeja, fourth doubles Quinn Funston.
Outlook: Sacks said, “Our [biggest] strength [is] the seven experienced players returning from last year. Our [biggest] challenge [is] to stay healthy, focused and to take one match at a time.”

Conestoga
Head coach: Fran Tomaselli, 40th year.
Last year’s record: 19-3 overall, 11-0 Central League, second place in PIAA District 1, PIAA state quarterfinalist.
Key returnees: sophomore first singles Ashley Griffith, sophomore second singles Cassidy Landau, junior third singles Maddie Wood, sophomore doubles Priya Aravindhan, junior doubles Amy Zhang, senior doubles Sarah Aboseada, junior doubles Nina Herman, junior doubles Annie Burdick.
Others to watch: freshman doubles Olivia Dodge.
Lost to graduation: first doubles Julia Herman, second doubles Nour Elkassabany, second doubles Hannah Ashton, fourth doubles Simonna Coelho.
Outlook: Tomaselli said, “We return many of our varsity players from last season, plus a new ninth grader to the mix. Also, we had a couple of players that were not healthy for much of the season last year and they seem to be fine this season. When you also factor in that the players have come back playing improved tennis since last year, I think we will once again be a very deep team as we usually are. I think we should be in the mix for the league title. Our depth is usually the key and this year should be no different. I think the biggest key will be how our new players perform and how well our returning JV players can step up to replace those that left. A successful season to me would be one in which our players play up to their capabilities and improve throughout the season.”

Episcopal Academy
Head coach: Whitaker Powell, 16th year.
Last year’s record: 12-2 overall, 7-0 Inter-Ac (champions).
Key returnees: sophomore singles Bella Calastri, senior first doubles Emily Beinkampen and Eloise Nimoityn, senior doubles Nina Stavropolous, junior doubles Sam Macrides.
Lost to graduation: Nadiyah Browning, Bella Echevarria, Kaity Tarte, Jessica Bai, Katie Kane, Haley Potter.
Outlook: Powell said, “Our strength will continue to be depth at the doubles spots, specifically 3/4 doubles. We lost a ton of experience and talent to graduation and replacing them won’t happen in one year. We have a great deal of youth and talent coming up but how successful we are this year will depend on how they compete, train and practice. The ability is there but that is only a small portion of the successful equation. I’m excited to coach this group of girls and watch them rebuild over the next few seasons.”

Friends’ Central
Head coach: Alex Margolies, second year.
Last year’s record: 12-7.
Key returnees: Senior first singles Zoe Ginsburg, sophomore second singles Skye Victor, sophomore first Julia Nierenberg, junior first doubles Claire Coss, senior second doubles Sophie Berger, senior second doubles Laura Barr.
Lost to graduation: Madeleine Coss.
Outlook: “We have many returning players and great leadership,” said Margolies.

Harriton
Head coach: David Broida, second year.
Last year’s record: 12-2.
Key returnees: sophomore singles Sophia Sassoli, Connie Richards and Nina Hoog.
Others to watch: doubles Sofia Kandoussi (junior), Shaina Ginsburg (freshman), Lauren Binnion (sophomore), Sonia Groeneveld (senior).
Lost to graduation: Nell Jones, Kontra twins (Sophia and Gabrielle).
Outlook: Broida said, “Excellent. Singles is our strength, and now adding freshman Shaina Ginsburg at doubles makes [our] outlook excellent.”

Haverford High
Head coach: Charlie Withers, third year.
Last year’s record: 6-8.
Key returnees: senior first singles Nellie O’Leary, senior second singles Jillian Bernstein, senior third singles Autumn Francis, senior third singles Sloan Longo, senior second doubles Caroline Roberts.
Others to watch: sophomore first doubles Chloe Aris and Lia Robben.
Outlook: Withers said, “Our team’s biggest strength is our determined mindset and commitment to improve every day. We will continue working on our transition game from the baseline to the net.”

Lower Merion
Head coach: David O’Connell, fifth year.
Last year’s record: 12-6 overall, 8-3 Central League (fourth place).
Key returnees: senior first singles Simone Burde, senior second singles Neve Brennan, senior third singles Cristina Bermudez, senior doubles Sarah Lipson, senior first doubles Haley Kofsky, second doubles Holly Yu, senior doubles Sarah Beller-Grossman, senior doubles Lexi Ginsberg, junior doubles/singles Kloe Rosenberg, junior singles/second doubles Chloe Spergel.
Others to watch: junior Barbara Peck, junior Tiffany Nieh, sophomore Jenna Mancuso, sophomore Aasha Gupta, sophomore Anabel Schain.
Lost to graduation: Allie Rauch, Dena Behar.
Outlook: Lower Merion will have a senior-dominated lineup with four players having four years of varsity experience. O’Connell said, “The strength of the team is our three singles players who all return and are looking forward to strong seasons. Our biggest challenge will be to be more consistent with the four doubles teams in league play. Doubles wins will be the key to [us] moving up in league and district play.”

Merion Mercy Academy
Head coaches: Katie Smith (third year), Megan Smith (first year).
Key returnees: senior Lada Dzidic, senior Ali Harvey, sophomore Nina Dzidic.
Others to watch: senior Brittany Ott, junior Sumin Walker, sophomore Madison Urbano, senior Kristen Matz, senior Marlowe Galbraith, senior Alaina Solkolski.
Lost to graduation: first doubles Jenny Dooner, third singles Kristen Kelley, first doubles Isabel Rosini.
Outlook: Coach Katie Smith said, “We have many returning, experienced players this year (including six seniors), and I am confident that they will continue to strive both on and off the courts. Coach Megan and I are also excited to watch the new team members shine this season.”

Radnor
Head coach: Patrick Kurz, second year.
Last year’s record: 15-3 overall, 9-2 Central League.
Key returnees: senior first singles Grace Hederick, senior second singles Jessica Lin, senior first doubles Quinn Flannery, senior second doubles Grace Moore, senior second doubles Sasha Smolyansky.
Others to watch: freshman singles Kanon Ciarrochi, freshman doubles Lucy Hederick, freshman doubles Bridget Dougherty, freshman doubles Grace Frigerio.
Lost to graduation: third singles Alice Lehr, doubles players Kara O’Malley, Norah Xiong, Meg Reid and Rosemary Barnhart.
Outlook: Kurz said, “A strong freshman class, along with a veteran senior class, should make us competitive with everyone we play.”

Shipley
Head coach: Oliver Jones, first year
Last year’s record: 12-6 overall, 8-1 Friends’ Schools League
Key returnees: senior doubles and co-captain Kate Aschkenasy, senior doubles and co-captain Brook Robinson, sophomore singles Isabella Scardapane.
Others to watch: freshmen Jazzy Stone and Lilia Becker.
Lost to graduation: singles Britt Lovett and McKinley Lovett, doubles Amanda Henry.
Outlook: Jones said, “Last year we had two wonderful captains in the Lovett sisters. Not only were they great players, spearheading our push for Friends League regular-season title, but they also showed what it means to be leaders on a team. Their leadership on this team will be sorely missed. While we have lost some experience, we have gained some youthful enthusiasm and energy in our freshman players. We have some key returnees (above) who I know will step forward and pick up the mantel the Lovetts left behind. Kate and Brook are our captains this year and have already shown tremendous qualities that will hopefully pass down to our younger players. This promises to be an exciting year for Shipley tennis as we cultivate young talent and look to a bright future.”

• Note: Barrack Hebrew Academy, Sacred Heart and Villa Maria Academy did not provide us with preview information.

North Penn 5, Owen J. Roberts 2 >> Neha Velaga and Elise Hurry won singles matches while North Penn took second, third and fourth doubles to take Monday’s non-league match.

North Penn 5, Owen J. Roberts 2

Singles: 1-Neha Velaga (NP) def. Meredith Lee (OJR) 6-1, 6-0; 2-Elaina Lee (OJR) def. Karley Alling (NP) 5-7, 7-6, 6-1; 3-Elise Hurry (NP) def. Jacey Caplan (OJR) 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles: 1-Camryn Gelting/Vidisha Pandey (OJR) def. Erin Hurry/Felicia Yan (NP) 7-5, 6-1; 2-Madhu William/Jess Szuchan (NP) def. Emily Haverstick/Chloe Doyle 6-2, 6-2; 3-Sarah Tung/Olivia Hauser (NP) def. Jen Weston/Erica Gratton 6-3, 6-4; 5-Sara Stavely/Sabrina Palmer (NP) def. Julia Brennan/Lauren Fisher (OJR) 6-3, 2-6, 10-5.

Souderton 5, Hatboro-Horsham 2 >> Souderton won three of four doubles matches, with Cara Plummer and Emily Wert rallying for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over first doubles, as the Indians picked up a SOL non-conference win Monday.

Souderton 5, Hatboro-Horsham 2

Singles: 1-Caitlin Le (S) def. Olivia Hurt (HH) 6-2 6-0; 2-Anna Fazio (HH) def. Maddie Coleman (S) 6-1 6-1; 3-Katherine Fursov (S) def. Faith Erlich (HH) 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles: 1-Cara Plummer/Emily Wert (S) def. Miller Huertgen/Antoinette Spinosa (HH) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; 2-Amber McElrath/Rachel Bailey (HH) def. Emily Ramage/Neda Majour (S) 6-1, 6-4; 3-Jayme Barnett/Jolee Catto (S) def. Carolyn Molnar/Sammy Topkis (HH) 6-1, 6-1; 4-Sunny Muthuswami/Leah Smith (S) def. Shreya Agravval/Julia Warden (HH) 6-4, 4-6, 7-3 (tiebreak).

Germantown Academy 5, Shipley School 0 >> Germantown Academy won all three singles matches and both double matches against Shipley School Tuesday afternoon. Germantown Academy 5, Shipley School 0

Singles: 1-Renee Repella (GA) def Isabella Scardapane (SH)6-0, 6-0. 2-Emma Menkowitz (GA) def Jarey Stone (SH) 6-2, 6-1. 3-Tiffany Zhong (GA) def Lillian Becker (SH) 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles: 1-Talia Sciccitano & Rachel Kliger (GA) def Brook Robinson & Kate Aschenosy (SH) 6-3, 7-5. 2-Kristen Haugen & Mikayla Fassler (GA) def Page McCallum & Hanna Book (SH) 6-4, 6-2.

Perk Valley 7, Pottsgrove 0 >> Perkiomen Valley defeated Pottsgrove, 7-0, Tuesday in a Pioneer Athletic Conference matchup. First singles Jasmine Morris and second singles Allison Newman both won 6-0, 6-0 for the Vikings.

Perk Valley 7, Pottsgrove 0

Singles: 1-Jasime Morris (PV) def Rebekah Lilliendahl (PG) 6-0, 6-0. 2-Allison Newman (PV) def Zoe Birch (PG) 6-0, 6-0. 3-Nadja Townsend (PV) def Mya Krueger (PG) 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles: 1-Sabina Brzozowski/Angelina Gizzio (PV) def Alexis Youse/Samme Marazas (PG) 6-0, 6-0. 2-Sana Kewalramani/Vee Mishra (PV) def Sabrina Gleason/Alyssa Wehr (PG) 6-1, 6-0. 3-Irina Koleva/Brooke Ozer (PV) def Ashley Livezey/Makenzie Murphy (PG) 6-0, 6-0. 4-Gabby Timoteo/Kay Mahon (PV) def Waverly Nofer/Ashley Leggis (PG) 6-1, 6-1.

Spring Ford 6, Phoenixville 1 >> Spring Ford defeated Phoenixville, 6-1, Tuesday afternoon in a Pioneer Athletic Conference matchup.

William Tennent 7, Truman 0 >> William Tennent defeated Truman, 7-0, Tuesday afternoon in a non-league meeting. Tennent’s Sarah Glass, Taylor Weidman and Erica Adamczyk each won singles matches.

William Tennent 7, Truman 0

Singles: 1-Sarah Glass (10) WTHS defeated DeKontee Williams 6-1, 6-1. 2-Taylor Weidman (9) WTHS defeated Lucy Padilla 6-0, 6-0. 3-Erica Adamczyk (11) WTHS defeated Grace Pittman 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles: 1-Elisa Steinhardt (9) and Zoe Khodak (10) WTHS defeated Tanaya Baldwin and Ernestine Jallah 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. 2-Kat Dankulich (10) and Elyanor Adnane (10) WTHS defeated Melissa Padilla and Liz Maldonado 6-2, 6-1. 3-Jemmy Medina (12) and Steph Shemchuk (10) WTHS defeated Scarlette Pinard and Princee Patel 6-0, 6-1. 4-Maria Kelly (10) and Sarah Ozyminski (10) WTHS won by forfeit.

Upper Merion 7, Norristown 0 >> Upper Merion defeated Norristown, 7-0, in a Pioneer Athletic Conference match Tuesday afternoon.

Wissahickon 7, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 >> Wissahickon defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh, 7-0, in a Suburban One League American Conference match Tuesday. Trojans’ Rachel Flame won her singles match 6-0, 6-0.

Wissahickon 7, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0

Singles: 1-Jenny Landells def Rachel Greenberg 6-3, 6-1. 2-Rachel Flame def Amana Nerenberg 6-0, 6-0. 3-Julia Friedenberg def Rebecca Richards 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles: 1-Samantha Sullivan and Sasha Iakimenko def Jess Fineman and Kaia Shula 6-0, 6-1. 2-Lauren Kang and Christie Yang def Adlai Lamason and Amanda Khan 6-1, 6-0. 3-Alycia Lee and Elizabeth Kooman def Kayla Kaufman and Molly Blum 6-0, 6-3. 4-Emily Richman and Krysta Memis def Megan Ng and Jamie Ash 6-2, 6-2.

DOYELSTOWN >> The North Penn girls’ tennis team has left singles in the hands of its underclassmen, plugging its experienced players into doubles.

So far, it has paid off. Tuesday, the relatively young but very talented Knights picked up a key 5-2 road win over CB West to open up SOL Continental play.

Spurred by straight set wins from No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, North Penn continued its hot start to the season.

“We know our first singles would probably win but the doubles matches would have a big impact,” senior Erin Hurry, part of the No. 1 doubles team, said. “Most tennis players don’t really play as a team like a field hockey team comes together to play as a team. Most of these kids are playing club matches and tournaments so we got lucky with a big group of people who have been playing since they were young.”

North Penn’s No. 1 singles, freshman Neha Velaga, has been as good as advertised so far. Tuesday, she topped the Bucks’ No. 1, Anna Sukharev in a 6-2, 6-1 match. Despite the final set scores, it was a good match with both players hitting some quality shots and making each other work for each point.

North Penn’s Karley Alling chips the ball back to Central Bucks West’s Reganne Gonser on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)

At No. 1 doubles, Hurry and partner Felicia Yan, a sophomore, picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win over Addie King and Emily Gruver to give the Knights key points at the top of each competition. Hurry said they were able to use deeper shots and lob balls past the Bucks’ top pairing to pick up points.

“Erin worked really hard in the offseason,” North Penn coach Kristina Alling said. “All the girls in the top positions did a lot of work since last year and it’s showing off.”

The match win was a big one for the pair, who hadn’t been seeing the wins early in the season. But, Hurry and Yan have been working hard on communicating and have a good sense of how to play with each other on the court.

“We have great communication,” Hurry said. “My coaches outside of school always say to talk in between points because it looks competitive to the other players, it can be intimidating and it helps you bond with your teammate.”

Hurry’s younger sister Elise picked up a hard fought 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles while CB West’s Reganne Gonser topped Karely Alling 7-6, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Alling gave it a good run in the first set, fighting out of a 3-0 hole to tie the set and force the tiebreaker game.

Aside from young players stepping up, North Penn’s early success, which featured a strong showing at Phoenixville’s tournament over the weekend and two match wins last week, the team has shown unity. From Velaga fitting in seamlessly to the upperclassmen taking leadership roles, North Penn has built a strong chemistry in the early stages of the season.

“We’ve done a lot of team bonding, we’re a lot closer than we were last year and I feel like we’re a better team,” Erin Hurry said. “We’ve had past parties, gone out for dinner. We’ve even had pre-preseason practices where we’ve worked out without our coaches.”

Central Bucks West first seed Anna Sukarev returns a corner shot by North Penn’s Neha Velaga on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)

CB West has begun the year 2-2 but still has plenty of potential with several returning players from last year and upperclassmen in key positions. For the Bucks, it’s a quick turnaround with CB South on Thursday and they’ll need to be a little sharper, especially at the net.

“They moved well but they need to work on playing together as a team,” Bucks coach Marcy Wouch said. “It’s little points here and there. They have to realize they need to concentrate on every single point.”

It was an important win for North Penn, especially after losing to the Bucks last season. Alling said West, CB East and CB South are usual the top squads in the Continental, so getting a win over one of those three to open things up was a big win for her squad.

“It’s the fact that it’s the entire team that’s contributing,” Alling said. “It’s the pairings and matchups. I try to put someone strong from the baseline with someone who’s a good net player. That’s the thing, I think all four of my doubles teams just want to win and that’s one of the biggest things, just going out there and competing.”

North Penn 5, CB West 2

Singles 1. Neha Velaga (NP) d. Anna Sakharev 6-2, 6-1; 2. Reganne Gonser (CBW) d. Karley Alling, 7-6, 6-0; 3. Elise Hurry (NP) d. Lydia Hu 6-4, 6-4
Doubles 1. Erin Hurry and Felicia Yan (NP) d. Addie King and Emily Gruver 6-4, 6-4; 2. Tian Butler and Maggie Wisniewski (CBW) d. Jessica Szuchan and Madha Willian 6-4, 6-2; 3. Sarah Tung and Olivia Hauser (NP) d. Bailey Welsh and Elizabeth Howell 7-5, 6-0; 4. Sarah Stavely and Sabrina Palmer (NP) d. Abby Monahan and Jesse Rubin 6-2, 6-1.

Top Photo: North Penn’s Neha Velaga sends a backhand shot to Central Bucks West’s Anna Sukarev on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)

Methacton 7, Pope John Paul II 0 >> In the first Pioneer Athletic Conference match for both teams, defending champion Methacton had no trouble with Pope John Paul II, winning 7-0 on Wednesday.

The best individual showing for PJP came at first singles, where Cassie Sucoloski gave Methacton’s Dina Nouaime good competition, with Nouaime winning 6-2, 6-3.

Methacton 7, Pope John Paul II 0
Singles: Dina Nouaime (Mt) def. Cassie Sucoloski 6-2, 6-3; Tina Prince (Mt) def. Kelly Watson 6-1, 6-0; Sydney Markowitz (Mt) def. Kelsey Macaluso 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles: Katie Benson/Sydney Thompson (Mt) def. Cara Deromedi/Dominique Marrecau 6-0, 6-0; Amanda Amornwichet/Ana Ryv (Mt) def. Jill Boyle/Julianna Capaldo 6-0, 6-1; Rachel Dorn/Claire/Fortin (Mt) def. Emily Grossbauer/Shannon Farnsworth 6-0. 6-0; Ari Louer/Anna Hilles (Mt) def. Krislyn Milligan/Kelsey Pettine 6-1, 6-1.

Merion Mercy 3, Gwynedd Mercy 2 >> Genevieve Wurtz got the win at first singles for Gwynedd Mercy but Merion Mercy rallied back for a 3-2 victory on Tuesday.
GMA faces Nazareth Academy Thursday at Frosty Hollow.

Merion Mercy 3, Gwynedd Mercy 2
Singles: Genevieve Wurtz def. Lada Dzidic (6-0, 3-0); Nina Dzidic (MM) def. Bella Bauman 6-2, 6-2; Ali Harvey (MM) def. Tess Flanigan 6-1, 6-4
Doubles: Molly Dale-Kelsey Van Thuyne (GMA) def. Maddie Urbano-Kristen Matz 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Brittany Ott-Sumin Walker (MM) def. Lana Kalinowski-Olivia Urie 6-0, 6-1

NEWTOWN – The school year is not through its first week and already, Council Rock North has had a pair of its top singles players go down with injuries.

The Lady Indians entered Wednesday’s matchup with visiting Central League rival Radnor without the services of junior Dora Zhao, who started the year at No. 3 singles. A little more than halfway through her match with Radnor freshman Kanon Ciarrocchi at No. 2 singles, junior Joanna Kwon had to forfeit the remainder of her match due to some back spasms.

“Both last year and this year, it’s a good group of girls who like each other and support each other and they want to win,” said CR North interim head coach Linda Morrin.

“I try to have them keep it in perspective – their health is more important than the result.”

Additionally, the Rock entered its 2016 campaign without senior Annalise Abraham, who is spending the semester studying in Germany. Abraham was the team’s top singles player last season.

This year, it’s junior Sophia Fischer. The 11th-grader’s talents were on full display vs. the Red Raiders’ top player – senior Grace Hederick. The 12th-grader shook off any jet lag acquired from an early morning flight from St. Louis and topped Fischer 10-5 in a super tiebreaker that gave the visitors a 6-0 triumph in their very first match of the season.

North, meanwhile, sustained its first loss a day after posting its first league win over sister school CR South. The Lady Indians are 3-1, overall, 1-0 in the Suburban One National League.

For her part, Fischer rebounded from a 7-5 loss in the first set to take the second one 7-6 (7-3) in a tiebreaker.

“Towards the end, I thought, ‘I’m not going to give up. I’m not going down without a fight,” said Fischer. “I just focused on every point. I didn’t give her the match in the second set.

“I kept my head and forced it into a tiebreaker.”

Facing CR South’s top player junior Alyssa Skulsky the day before, Fischer forced a third set with a 6-4 win in the second. The 2015 Suburban One National League champion, Skulsky took the third set however, giving the giving the Golden Hawks their only singles win on the day. Meanwhile, Kwon took her match with Vicky Lushnikov in split sets and sophomore Bhavana AmBatipudi won her match with Alexa Enache in straight sets. Together with three of four wins in doubles play, the Indians topped South, 5-2.

AmBatipudi started the year on the first doubles team but moved up upon the injury to Zhao, who is likely going to miss the remainder of the season. AmBatipudi actually tried out for singles play this year and was number four in preseason tryouts.

“She didn’t have to step up but I knew she wanted the singles experience,” explained Morrin. “It’s going to be a learning experience for her; she’s a 10th-grader but I think she’ll do well in that spot.”

Last year as a freshman, AmBatipudi played exhibition and fourth doubles. The sophomore came up huge when she topped Enache 7-5, 7-5 vs. CR South. On this day however, she was topped by Radnor senior Jessica Lin 6-0, 6-0.

After playing doubles in the team’s win over CB West, AmBatipudi lost her first singles match against West Chester Rustin.

“To step up from first doubles and then right into singles, it’s an adjustment for her,” said Morrin. “But she wants it.”

“She went out and worked hard on the weekend and she was determined and full of confidence (against CR South). She got beat up a little today but it’s OK. She’s going to take her bumps and bruises but she’s very positive. She can’t wait for tomorrow.”

In addition to AmBatipudi, the Rock is fortunate to have Fischer on its side. The 11th-grader didn’t play tennis last season after taking a year off from the varsity game.

“It feels really great to be back. I missed the team spirit so it’s really nice,” she explained.

“My goal isn’t to win as much as it is to play my best. I really just want to embrace the team spirit and make a lot of friends.”

Between Abraham studying in Germany and the injury to Zhao, there’s been a lot of shifting in the lineup, especially among doubles partners.

That’s where senior Lauren Thatcher steps in. A field hockey player for the past three seasons, she decided to come out for tennis this year. Teamed up with sophomore Isabel Levine, the duo won their first set vs. CR South 6-0, before dropping the next two 6-3, 6-3.

After dropping her matchup with Radnor’s Claire Burton and Priya Ganesh, Thatcher spent some time talking about the differences between tennis and field hockey.

“I think you need more precise movements in tennis,” said Thatcher. “Field hockey is a lot of running and passing. Tennis is more exact. You have to make sure you hit your ball over the net exactly where you want it or you’ll miss.

“You need every point and that matters in every game. In field hockey, you can always catch up.”

Senior Alex Newman is among those doubles partners who have had to make an adjustment. She and junior Abbie Briskin won their match with CB West and also came through vs. CR South, taking the match with Laney Blatnick and Emily Rosenfeld in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

According to Newman, the match was closer than the score indicated.

“The points were very long – deuce, add, deuce, add,” explained Newman. “It went back and forth for a while and it took a while for us to win but we fought it out.”

“South is a very competitive team and I think we’re very evenly matched.”

Last year, the Indians finished in a three-way tie for first place with CR South and Pennsbury. This season, Morrin thinks the squad has the talent to win the league outright.

“Our goal is to take it one match at a time and hopefully take the league,” said Morrin. “We beat a tough team yesterday and we still have at least two more tough ones to go.”

Those two tough ones would be Abington and Pennsbury. The Indians face the Galloping Ghosts, which captured the league title in 2013 and 2014, Sept. 7 in enemy territory and must also travel to the Falcons’ home court on Sept. 13.

If the Rock can regain its health heading down the stretch, CR North might even make some noise in the postseason. Last year, the team was stopped by District 1 finalist Conestoga in the opening round of the tournament.

The Indians finish their regular season campaign Sept 27 and 28 at home against non-league rivals Unionville and CB East. Both were District 1 quarterfinalists last year so the Rock should be playoff-tested come time for the postseason.

Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter

North Penn 7 , William Tennent 0 >> The Knights continued their unbeaten start to the season and improved to 2-0 in the SOL Continental with a sweep of the Panthers.
Freshman Neha Velaga didn’t drop a game winning No. 1 singles while No. 1 doubles pairing Erin Hurry and Ishika Pradhar only dropped one game in their match win. Tennent’s Taylor Weidman had the most success among the Panthers, falling to Karley Alling 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
Singles: Neha Velaga (NP) d. Sarah Glass 6-0, 6-0; Karley Alling (NP) d. Taylor Weidman 6-2, 6-1; Elise Hurry (NP) d. Erica Adamczyk 6-0, 6-0
Doubles: Erin Hurry/Ishika Pradhar (NP) d. Elisa Steinhardt/Zoe Khodak 6-0, 6-1; Jessica Szacha/Madhu William (NP) d. Kat Dankulich/Elyanor Adnane 6-0, 6-2; Olivia Hauser/Sarah Tang (NP) d. Steph Shemchuk/Jemmy Medina 6-0, 6-1; Sarah Stavely/Sabrina Palmer (NP) d. Maria Kelly/Maxine Fairall 6-0, 6-0
Methacton 5 Pottstown 0 >> The Warriors rolled over PAC rival Pottstown Thursday afternoon, dropping just a single game across the five combined matches contested to completion. Third and Fourth doubles were forfeit victories to Methacton.
Dina Nouaime continues to settle in at No. 1 singles, going 6-0, 6-0 for a straight-set win.
Singles: Dina Nouaime (M) d. Alivia Lopez 6-0, 6-0; Tina Prince (M) d. Ashley Adams 6-0, 6-0; Sydnie Markowitz (M) d. Sierra Everett 6-1, 6-0
Doubles: Katie Benson/Sydney Thompson (M) d. Abigail Richter/Zoe Wallace 6-0, 6-0; Amanda Amornwichet/Anna Ryu (M) d. Jaelyn Kennedy/Kimberley Wilkinson 6-0, 6-0
Upper Merion 5, Boyertown 2 >> The Vikings got a win at all three singles positions to pick up a hard-fought win Thursday.
Amy Phanthavong earned a three-set win at No. 1 singles with Upper Merion getting crucial points from its No. 1 and No. 3 doubles pairings to pick up the winning points.
Singles: Amy Phanthavong (UM) d. Rachel Moyer 6-2, 0-6, 7-6; Mirali Tare (UM) d. Ivy Price 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Sahar Islam (UM) d. Lauren Staffa 7-5, 6-1
Doubles: Jillian Leary/Sarah McCafferty (B) d. Sophie Gomez/Marlena Ruser 7-5, 6-3; Anna Rosato/Gabrielle Margulio (UM) d. Devanshi Agnihotri/Kelly Moore 6-0, 6-1; Hali Shin/Emily Reid (UM) d. Julianna Guhler/Josie Benner 6-3, 6-1; Jessica Kerr/Morgan Gatkour (B) d. Kristen Gelban/Raizel Alli 6-0, 6-4
Upper Perkiomen 7, Christopher Dock 0 >> It was a tough afternoon for the Pioneers in a nonleague tilt with Upper Perk on Thursday.
Singles: Carly Bernhart (UP) d. Amber Clemens 6-3, 6-2; Emily Brandt (UP) d. Melea Ruth 6-1, 6-0; Maddy Gochnauer (UP) d. Dillan Yuan 6-3, 6-3
Doubles: Emily Moll/Abby Clifford (UP) d. Shirley Yu/Yilan Guo 6-2, 6-0; Allison Herbst /Cassidy Wright (UP) d. Rina Althouse/Sarah Thalathotti 6-3, 6-2; Olivia Dick/Skylar Gianfriddo (UP) d. Regan Zehr/Sarah DeGeorge 6-1, 6-0; Sanjana Patel/Sophie Jago (UP) d. Carmen Ji/Jackie Carson 6-1, 6-4
Pennsbury 5, Abington 2 >> The Galloping Ghosts dropped an SOL National contest Thursday, picking up their only two points in doubles play.
Pennsbury swept singles but Abington’s No. 1 doubles of Lily Sellei and Emily Goldfarb and No. 4 doubles Megan Quigley and Aichatou Haidara did pick up victories in their matches.
Singles: Libby Bryson (P) d. Ellen Ruch 6-2, 6-1; Julia Paraboschi (P) d. Chloe Barmat 6-2, 6-1; Anna Zygmunt (P) d. Leana Perumaly 6-4, 6-2
Doubles: Lily Sellei/ Emily Goldfarb (A) d. Chelsea Riechelson/Meghan Davis 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; Rachel Fried/ Nisha Vora (P) d. Lauryn Levette/Sami Gable 6-4, 3-6, 1-1 fft; Shreya Yeramosu/Claire Johnson (P) d. Colette Carosella/Arden Weilheimer 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Megan Quigley/Aichatou Haidara (A) d. Sam Dearolf/Sara Sawant 6-2, 6-3

Owen J. Roberts 7, Upper Merion 0 >> The Wildcats won all pairings in straight sets against the Vikings to remain unbeaten in PAC play.

Camryn Gelting and Vidisha Pandey lead the way for Owen J. (3-0) with a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles. The best individual showing for UM was its third-doubles tandem of Hali Shin and Emily Reid, who won four games.

Methacton 7, Upper Perkiomen 0 >> The Warriors dropped just five games in the singles bracket en route to their PAC sweep of the Indians.

A 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles by Katie Benson and Sydney Thompson was the best individual outing for Methacton. UP’s third-doubles pairing of Olivia Dick and Kelsey Cummings won three games to lead UP.

Pottsgrove 6, Pottstown 1 >> Gianna Epps provided the Trojans their lone victory during a PAC match with the Falcons.

Epps won 7-6, 7-5, 3-6, 3-6 against Rebekah Lillendahl at No. 1 singles. Zoe Birch and Mya Krueger rattled off wins to give the Falcons the advantage. The doubles pair of Sabrina Gleason/Mackenzie Murphy and Alyssa Wehr/Ashley Lessig each posted 6-0, 6-0 wins to close out the match.

Spring-Ford 7, Pope John Paul II 0 >> Tori Alexander swept her first-singles match to lead the Rams’ victory over the Golden Panthers in PAC action.

Alexander recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win on PJP’s Cassie Sucoloski. The Panthers’ best individual effort came at third singles, where Kelsey Macaluso won five games.

Perkiomen Valley 7, Norristown 0 >> The Vikings handled the undermanned Eagles to come away with the PAC win.

Olivia Newman and Kristen Koenig, playing at second and third singles, recorded matching 6-1, 6-0 wins to key PV’s sweep of singles. It was uncontested in doubles, Norristown unable to put out any teams.

Phoenixville 7, Boyertown 0 >> The Phantoms lost just four games in singles play as they swept the Bears in their PAC match.

Phoenixville was led by singles players Julia Gumieniak and Gina Brown, who took their respective first and second matches by 6-0, 6-0 scores. The best individual showing for Boyertown came at third singles, where Lauren Staffa won four games.