Girls' tennis preview: Area teams rebuilding from graduation

Last spring, two of the area’s best girls’ high school teams proved to be two of the state’s best.

Sherando and Handley squared off against each other a whopping six times, including the final time in the state semifinals. The Warriors captured that match 5-3 to finish 4-2 against the Judges. Sherando also won the district title, while Handley knocked off the Warriors for the Region 4C title.

As good as the battles were between those two squads, this spring will be almost entirely different for both teams.

For the Warriors (who fell 5-3 against Jamestown in the state finals), they start off with a new coach. David Robertson, who also coaches the Sherando boys, will do double duty this season. He replaces Trevor Johnson, who retired after 13 seasons and led the Warriors to a pair of state runner-up finishes.

The Sherando lineup will undergo a big change as well. The Warriors (21-3 last season) lost their top three players — Michaela Koch, Morgan Sutphin and Emmy Woolever — who were all Winchester Star All-Area selections last season as well as their No. 6 starter.

Returning will be sophomores Katie Freilich and Gabriella Koch, who had outstanding freshman seasons while playing No. 4 and No. 5 respectively. Robertson expects junior newcomer Leah Zarasczak to make an impact.

Handley’s Steffany Plotts will have an even bigger rebuilding project this season. The Judges (18-5 last spring) lost five of six starters, including All-Area selections Sarina Parikh, Grace Meehan and Lindsay Pifer.

Lefty Tess McAllister, who played at No. 5 last season, is the only returning starter to the Handley lineup.

First-year Millbrook coach Amanda Hileman has a huge void at the top of the Pioneers lineup. Millbrook graduated three-time Class 4 Northwestern District champion and two-time Winchester Star Player of the Year Kinsey Knox, who is now playing No. 5 singles at Virginia-Wise. Knox did not lose in district play during her three seasons with the Pioneers.

Peyton Cotterell, who played No. 3, is the lone returning singles starter for Millbrook.

James Wood will also have a new head coach this season, one who has had some success as a player herself in the Northwestern District. Alexa Venturato was a former standout player at Sherando. She was a state runner-up in doubles and was part of a Warriors team that advanced to the state finals.

The Colonels return two of their top players from last season in sophomore Violet Quodala and junior Sydney Delawder. Quodala saw action at No. 1 and No. 2, while Delawder played at No. 2 and No. 3. Junior Lily Dodson also saw action in the singles lineup at No. 6.

The area’s Class 4 teams will begin their first season in Region 4D, which historically has featured some strong competition.

Clarke County’s Ted Schulhof is the only area coach who is not replacing the majority of his lineup. He loses two players out of his Top 6 in singles, but returns junior Lillian Hayton, senior Kaylynn Chapman-Browne, senior Mary V. Simmons and sophomore Isabella Concha, who all saw action in the Top 4. Senior Delaney Collins also returns to the team after missing last season.

The following is a brief look at the teams as provided by the coaches:

Sherando

Coach: David Robertson, first season

Last year: 21-3, Class 4 Northwestern District champion, Region 4C runner-up, Class 4 state runner-up

Key losses: Michaela Koch, Morgan Sutphin, Emmy Woolever, Lia Gannon, Kendall Clarke

Key returners: Katie Freilich (So.), Gabriella Koch (So.), Hailey Reynolds (Sr.), Nya Patten (So.), Madison Cowden (Jr.), Addyson Kelly (Jr.)

Key newcomers: Leah Zarasczak (Jr.), Jaqueline Portillo (Jr.), Kaia Achstetter (So.), Alivia Carper (So.), Fatima Anwar (So.), Sophia Kemp (Fr.), Jessica Orsorio (Fr.).

Robertson’s expectations: “We are looking to play our best tennis at the end of the season and compete in the postseason tournament. … I am pleased all returners put time in on the court this past off season. I am excited to watch this year’s players fill the roles left by last year’s great group of players who graduated. Katie Freilich and Gabriella Koch have both lifted their games, as have all the returners. Our new players, especially Leah Zarasczak, have impressed me with their games and improvement since joining our program.

“Our goal is to compete in the region and advance to the state tournament. There are several good teams in our section of the region. We will need to continue improving our level of play during the season to have a chance at our goal.”

First match: Monday vs. Clarke County

Handley

Coach: Steffany Plotts, second season

Last season: 18-5, Class 4 Northwestern District runner-up, Region 4C champion, Class 4 state semifinalist

Key losses: Page Brubaker, Sophia McAllister, Grace Meehan, Sarina Parikh, Lindsay Pifer

Key returnees: Tess McAllister (Sr.), Julia O’Connor (Sr.), Ellie Bessette (Jr.), Lexy Plotts (Jr.), Sloane Willingham (Jr.), Liza Browning (So.), Marta Meneau (So.), Leah Scully (So.).

Key newcomers: Mary Botros (Sr.), Eleanor Hessberg (Fr.), Elise Mueller (Fr.), Lily Peterson (Fr.), Lulu Rhodes (Fr).

Plotts’ expectations: Our Top 6 last year was loaded with seniors. The leadership they provided and example they set, will be felt within our program for years to come. This new team is hungry and ready to get to work. We will focus on the fundamentals and gaining confidence and match experience so that we are ready to make a run in the postseason. From top to bottom, this team has worked extremely hard in the offseason. I’m so proud of all of them. They will all be fighting for playing time and that is going to make them all better.

“I expect our district to be as tough as it always is. We look forward to the challenge and are excited to see how this new format plays out.”

First match: Monday vs. Loudoun Valley

Millbrook

Coach: Amanda Hileman, first season

Last season: 11-5

Key losses: Kinsey Knox, Abigail Townes

Key returnees: Peyton Cotterell (Sr.); Jennifer Collins (Jr.)

Key newcomers: Sydney Volkmann (Fr.), Zoey Creswell (Fr.), Lanie Yeggy (Fr.), Alex Townes (Fr.), Caroline Rackmales (Fr.), Sophia Smedley (Fr.), Erin Hershberger (Fr.).

Hileman’s expectations: “We have a lot of promising freshmen joining 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. … Since this is my first year, I’m really getting to know all the girls. Peyton Cotterell has been a fantastic leader so far. She helps the other girls and constantly radiates positivity, which has helped the freshmen girls get more comfortable. The whole team is really coming together and working hard to get better and prepare for the upcoming season.

“Being in a new region is challenging, but exciting. We’re ready to play competitively and get as many wins as possible.”

First match: Tuesday at Sherando

James Wood

Coach: Alexa Venturato, first season

Last season: 6-10

Key losses: Bianca Linares

Key returners: Violet Quodala, Sydney Delawder, Lily Dodson

Key newcomers: “We have eight new players this year that I am very excited about.”

Venturato’s expectations: “My overall expectations for this season are that my girls grow as tennis players and grow as people. My team is young, I won’t be graduating any players after this season. Since we’ll be together for two years, we have an excellent opportunity to build team spirit and develop our skills as a unit. … Violet Quodala is going to be a player to watch. She trains hard in the off-season and has a lot of raw talent. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do this year.

“I am optimistic about our outcome this season. My girls are working hard and our new players are picking up technique very quickly. The new region will provide some new competition that I think will be good for us and will give us an opportunity to see our strengths and weaknesses on a different scale.”

First match: Wednesday vs. Washington (W.Va.)

Clarke County

Coach: Ted Schulhof, 16th season

Last season: 5-12

Key losses: Ana Gonzalez, Kylie Prazinko

Key returners: Kaylynn Chapman-Browne (Sr.), Mary V. Simmons (Sr.); Lillian Hayton (Jr.), Isabella Concha (So.)

Key newcomers: Delaney Collins (Sr.), Noelle Whalen (Jr.), Lucia Martinez-Barrio (Jr., exchange student from Spain)

Schulhof’s expectations: “My expectations are to win the [Bull Run] District. Kaylynn worked hard on her strokes in the offseason. Lilly attended a couple dozen out-of-season practices. Delaney returns to the team with singular focus and determination. Noelle says that tennis is in her blood and I believe her. Lucia has some serious skills. Mary is a four-year vet. Isabella is crushing tennis balls.

“This is a serious yet fun-loving group. They all want to be impactful this season. Nearly everyone is a veteran with at least one season of previous team play. We know the season is fleeting and are prepared to give it our maximum effort. With East Rockingham gone, Central is probably the favorite to win districts, but I wouldn’t discount Strasburg, nor Clarke.”

First match: Monday at Sherando

— Contact Walt Moody at
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