York’s girls tennis program is coming off its best season in school history, claiming Bay Rivers District, Conference 25 and Region 3A East championships before falling in the 3A state championship match to Western Albemarle.
The Falcons return two of their top three players from last year — senior Gaby Tersigni and junior Kristin Dantzler — and can be considered the early favorites in the Bay Rivers District this season.
Lafayette also made a deep run into the postseason last year— falling to eventual state champion Western Albemarle in the 3A state semifinal — but will have to rebuild this year after graduating its three best players from that successful run.
Grafton will have to replace five starters from last year’s team who reached the 4A South region tournament quarterfinals, while Jamestown will have to deal with the loss of four starters from last year.
Bruton will start three seniors and all signs point to the Panthers trending up this season. Tabb and Warhill, who are both facing rebuilding years, will attempt to keep up with the rest of the Bay Rivers District.
Below are previews for the Historic Triangle girls tennis teams, which begin Bay Rivers District play Tuesday:
Bruton
Head Coach: John Jacobson
2015 Classification: 2A Conference 33
2014 Record: 4-9
Players to Watch: Sydney Wojcieszak (senior), Allison Pratt (senior), Sasha Morris (senior), Natalie Cross (junior)
Season Outlook: Coach John Jacobson thinks the Panthers could be poised for a breakout season in the Bay Rivers District and Conference 25. The Panthers ended last season with a 5-0 loss to Maggie Walker in the Conference 33 finals. Jacobson said the No. 1 spot will be up for grabs as Pratt, a senior transfer from Oklahoma, challenges last year’s No. 1, Wojcieszak. Jacobson is excited to see how the competition between the two girls will improve their games. Morris, who went 7-8 as Bruton’s No. 3 last year, has become more aggressive on the court and improved her shotmaking, Jacobson said. All six singles starters have varsity experience, which should help Bruton stay competitive in tough matches.
Grafton
Head Coach: Zak Minor
2015 Classification: 4A Conference 19
2014 Record: 11-3
Players to Watch: Winnie Zhang (sophomore), Alex Dixon (senior), Jenna DeShayes (senior), Yuki Ogusu (sophomore)
Season Outlook: Grafton will have to replace five of its top-six singles players from last year’s team that lost 5-3 to Glen Allen in the quarterfinals of the 4A South tournament after winning the Conference 19 championship. The only returning starter from last year’s team is Zhang, who will move up to the No. 1 singles spot after playing at No. 2 last year as a freshman. Seniors Dixon and DeShayes will hold down the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively, for the Clippers. Overcoming inexperience will be a major factor in how successful Grafton is this season. Coach Zak Minor says he expects his team to stay competitive this season despite the roster turnover.
Jamestown
Head Coach: Karen Johnson
2015 Classification: 4A Conference 19
2014 Record: 8-7
Players to Watch: Anna Walter (junior), Katie Hunt (senior), Alisha Kohli (sophomore), Alexis Tisdale (junior)
Season Outlook: Coach Karen Johnson will lead a team that has had to replace four starters from last season’s team that finished 8-7 and lost to Grafton in the Conference 19 championship match. Johnson said inexperience will be her team’s biggest weakness, especially in doubles where the Eagles will be fielding all new teams this season. Walter, who will be the No. 1 player for Jamestown this season, is coming off a 20-2 singles record last year that included winning the Conference 19 singles title and finishing as the singles runner-up in the state. The Eagles return Tisdale, who missed all of last season after tearing her ACL. Jamestown’s success will depend on how quickly the newcomers can get comfortable playing in match situations.
Lafayette
Head Coach: Pat Thompson
2015 Classification: 3A Conference 25
2014 Record: 15-3
Players to Watch: Tawni Hatcher (junior), Haley Quarles (sophomore), Robin Rosewelsh (sophomore), Maggie Dwyer (junior)
Season Outlook: Coming off a state semifinal loss to Western Albemarle, Coach Pat Thompson said her team could be in for a rebuilding year after the Rams graduated their top three players from last season: Libby Bland, Hannah Trueblood and Maia Rosewelsh. With no seniors on this year’s team, the Rams will have to lean on Hatcher and Quarles. Hatcher, a junior, will be the No. 1 player for Lafayette this season with Quarles, who went undefeated last year as Lafayette’s No. 5, holding down the No. 2 spot. Robin Rosewelsh, the younger sister of Maia, appears to have a solid grasp on the third spot in the singles lineup. Thompson said doubles will be a big concern for her team this year as younger players get used to playing competitive doubles matches against talented Bay Rivers District opponents.
Tabb
Head Coach: Mike Dow
2015 Classification: 4A Conference 19
2014 Record: 1-9
Players to Watch: Wendi Williams (senior), Jenny Gu (freshman), Mary Katherine Galoozis (junior), Abby Adcox (sophomore)
Season Outlook: After winning one game in 2014 and losing to Smithfield in the first round of the Conference 19 tournament, Coach Mike Dow said he hopes to lead his team to a .500 record this season. The Tigers will have to replace Taylor Hogge, Tabb’s No. 1 singles player for the past three years, who graduated in the offseason. Williams, a senior, will replace Hogge as the No. 1 singles player. Dow said Gu, a freshman, will surprise some people, saying she rivals Williams in practice but likely won’t supplant Williams as the No. 1 singles player. With two upperclassmen set to compete in the top-six singles spots, Dow’s biggest concern is the overall inexperience of his roster.
Warhill
Head Coach: James Gomes
2015 Classification: 3A Conference 25
2014 Record: 5-6
Players to Watch: Sasha Strakhova (senior), Katie Braddom (sophomore), Ellie Buscher (junior), Olivia Dannon (junior)
Season Outlook: After a 5-6 record and failing to make the Conference 25 tournament as a team last season, Coach James Gomes is stressing the basics to this year’s team. Gomes said he is trying to teach his players how to volley and consistently follow through ground strokes. The Lions will be without last year’s No. 2, Madison Dronen, who will miss the entire season after injuring her ankle while cheerleading. Warhill returns it’s No. 1 player from last season, Strakhova. With a full season of playing No. 1 tennis under her belt, Gomes thinks Strakhova can hang with some of the other top players in the Bay Rivers District. Gomes said he does not have a season goal in terms of wins and losses, but wants to see his team become fundamentally sound by the end of the season.
York
Head Coach: Steve Fisher
2015 Classification: 3A Conference 25
2014 Record: 16-1
Players to Watch: Gaby Tersigni (senior), Kristin Dantzler (junior), Courtney Jenkins (junior), Casey Jutras (senior)
Season Outlook: The York girls tennis team is coming off a fantastic season in which the Falcons won the Bay Rivers District, Conference 25 and Region 3A East. York came one match short of a state title, losing to Western Albemarle in the 3A state championship. The Falcons return two of their top three players from last season, Tersigni and Dantzler. Tersigni, who will serve as the No. 1 player for York this season, reached the semifinals of the state championship in doubles and was a regional semifinalist in singles last year. Dantzler, York’s No. 2, went undefeated last season as the No. 3 singles player for the Falcons. Coach Steve Fisher said he has 12 skilled players on his roster, but his lower-seeded players will need to show more consistency.
