Sherando girls’ tennis was hard to beat in 2025.
The Warriors completed a perfect 16-0 regular season, won the Region 4D Tournament by besting Blacksburg 5-3 in the finals and picked up a 5-3 Class 4 state quarterfinals victory over Loudoun Valley before suffering their only loss of the season in the semifinals against Jamestown, 5-4.
For these efforts, Katie Freilich won The Winchester Star Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year for the second straight season, while head coach Jason Robertson won The Winchester Star Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year award in his second season on the job.
After posting a 19-2 singles record from the No. 1 position last season, Freilich will continue chasing success as a senior. She finished 2025 as a Region 4D singles semifinalist and won the region alongside doubles partner Gabriella Koch, before the duo finished as Class 4 state semifinalists together. Koch and Freilich went 17-2 as a pairing, and Koch went 19-1 individually in the No. 2 slot.
Sherando also returns Madeline Koch, who went 19-0 in singles from the No. 3 position as a freshman, and fellow returning starters Sophia Kemp and Nya Patten. Claire Hepner also saw time in the top six last year for the Warriors, who are 2-0 heading into Monday.
After a 14-3 finish last spring, Handley will look to knock Sherando off the region throne. That could be a tall task, as the Warriors handed the Judges all three of their defeats last season, including a 5-2 defeat in the Region 4D semifinals.
Handley’s top doubles pairing was split up this offseason due to Ellie Bessette’s graduation, but her partner, junior Eleanor Hessberg, returns after going 12-3 individually from the No. 2 slot and 12-4 alongside Bessette. The duo made the Region 4D finals before falling to the Warriors’ top tandem.
Junior Lulu Rhodes is also back after going 11-3 as the Judges’ No. 3 last spring. Senior Liza Browning is also back from the top six.
After finishing 8-7 last season, James Wood (0-1 heading into Monday) returns seniors Violet Quodala and Emma Miller after the duo reached the Region 4D quarterfinals in 2025. Quodala also finished 9-6 as the Colonels’ No. 1, helping her reach the quarterfinals individually.
Millbrook (1-0 heading into Monday) will look to get over .500 this season after finishing 6-8 last spring. The Pioneers return nine players — including most of their top six — from last season, including No. 1 player Sydney Volkmann.
Over in Class 2, Clarke County (0-2 heading into Monday) will also look to finish with a winning record after going 7-10 a year ago. The Eagles fell to Fort Defiance in the Region 2B semifinals last season.
Clarke County returns junior Grace Trent, who was a Region 2B singles and doubles finalist after going 12-8 in singles action and 10-9 in doubles alongside the graduated Noelle Whalen.
Here’s a look at each team, as provided by the coaches:
Sherando
Coach: Jason Robertson, third season.
Last year: 20-1, lost to Jamestown in Class 4 state semifinals.
Key losses: Addyson Kelly
Key returners: Katie Freilich (Sr.); Gabriella Koch (Sr.); Nya Patten (Sr.); Sophia Kemp (Jr.); Madeline Koch (So.); Claire Hepner (So.); Sophia Hook (So.); Alyssa Eickmeyer (So.); Yu Shan Liu (So.)
Key newcomers: Emily Vasquez Canisalez (Jr.); Annabel Cain (So.); Isabella Gallegos (So.); Bristol Kidwell (Fr.); Ava Roose (Fr.)
Robertson’s outlook: “The returning girls worked hard to improve in the offseason. I am impressed with our newcomers. Our expectations are to be playing our best tennis at the end of the season, qualify for the postseason, and compete. We always enjoy our matches with our local rivals (Handley, James Wood and Millbrook). Blacksburg has a strong returning team and E.C. Glass is always dangerous in the region. Hopefully, we can build on last season’s state semifinal finish.”
Next match: Tuesday at Clarke County, 4:30 p.m.
Handley
Coach: Steffany Plotts, fourth season.
Last year: 14-3, lost to Sherando in Region 4D semifinals.
Key losses: Ellie Bessette, Lexy Plotts
Key returners: Liza Browning (Sr.); Marta Meneau (Sr.); Leah Scully (Sr.); Eleanor Hessberg (Jr.); Elise Mueller (Jr.); Lulu Rhodes (Jr.); Lily Peterson (Jr.); Kiera Gramling (So.); Joy Walrath (So.)
Key newcomers: Rachel Casella (Fr.); Emerson Gordon (Fr.)
Plotts’ outlook: “We have a really dedicated core of players who are hungry and ready for a great season. We should perform well in our district and region. We will have some great competition, and we look forward to some excellent matchups this year. We will continue to build on our themes of being prepared and doing things the right way.”
Next match: Wednesday at Sherando, 4:30 p.m.
James Wood
Coach: Alexa Venturato, third season.
Last year: 8-7.
Key losses: Layla D’Elia, Lily Dodson
Key returners: Violet Quodala (Sr.); Emma Miller (Sr.); Marley Baxter (Jr.); Caoilyn Baggarly (Jr.); Elena Tracy (So.)
Key newcomer: Macie Hewitt (Fr.)
Venturato’s outlook: “My overall expectations of this season are to focus on resilience and adaptability. We have a deep team and I think we will be a strong contender.”
Next match: Wednesday at Liberty, 4:30 p.m.
Millbrook
Coach: Amanda Hileman, third season.
Last year: 6-8.
Key loss: Jenn Collins
Key returners: Brookelyn Snyder (Sr.); Sydney Volkmann (Jr.); Zoey Creswell (Jr.); Lanie Yeggy (Jr.); Alex Townes (Jr.); Caroline Rackmales (Jr.); Maia Parks (Jr.); Bria Yeggy (So.); Chloe Katz (So.)
Key newcomer: Maran Jaquays (Fr.)
Hileman’s outlook: “We have a lot of skilled returning players on our team this year. We are looking to compete and take it one game at a time, improving where needed. I expect my girls to come out and compete to the best of their abilities against all teams.
“All of the girls have been putting in a lot of work in the offseason, which makes me proud as a coach. My only senior, Brookelyn Snyder, has been bringing a lot of positive energy to the team already and constantly encouraging everyone.”
Next match: Wednesday at Meridian, 4:30 p.m.
Clarke County
Coach: Ted Schulhof, 18th season.
Last year: 7-10, lost to Fort Defiance in Region 2B semifinals.
Key loss: Noelle Whalen
Key returners: Grace Trent (Jr.); Hannah McGeough (Sr.); Macie Wolf (So.); Rowana Ayala (So.); Natalie Perry (So.); Yarel Lopez (Jr.); Jade Atiyeh (So.)
Key newcomers: None listed
Schulhof’s outlook: “[Our expectation is to] win the district. I’m sure Central is the favorite, but returning six of the top seven puts us on good footing. We know what it takes to compete. Obviously, you can’t replace Noelle’s drive and talent but we’re solid one through six. I believe Grace has the potential to win against top competition.”
Next match: Tuesday versus Sherando, 4:30 p.m.
— Contact Joe Tuman at jtuman@winchesterstar.com
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