2012 Girls Tennis Capsule Previews

NORTHWEST LEAGUE

ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: Lucas Leavitt, second season
2011 record: 7-4-1 (4-4-1 Northwest)
Returning letter winners: Four
Top players: Elen Safarian (Jr.), Imonie Coward (Jr.), Sarah Johnson (Sr.), Tallie Meyer (Jr.)
Outlook: The Aggies narrowly missed qualifying for the postseason last year, but lost their three singles players to graduation.

“With a lot of youth on this team, this season should be fun,” Leavitt said.

SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Robert Bloom, ninth season
2011 record: 4-4 (4-4 Southwest)
Top player: Lea Kirchner
Outlook: The Grizzlies narrowly missed the postseason last year, and lost state champion Tiffany Tavares to graduation.

“This year is a rebuilding year,” Bloom said.

SOUTHWEST LEAGUE

CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Pat Thomas, 20th season
2011 record: 5-6 (4-5 Northwest)
Returning letter winners: Six
Top players: Lilly Garcia (Sr.), Kimberly Sanchez (Sr.), Tiersa Schultz (Jr.)
Outlook: The Spartans lost 12 seniors to graduation and will have to rebuild.

“We have a good group of young girls working hard for a good season,” Thomas said.

DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Kelly Perryman, fifth season
2011 record: 6-5 (5-3 Southwest)
Returning letter winners: Five
Top players: Jessica Alberro (Sr.), Christina Casanova (Sr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks were a playoff team last year and hope to be again this season. Casanova was 20-11 in doubles, and Alberro went 19-12 in doubles last season.

NORTHEAST LEAGUE

CANYON SPRINGS
Head coach: Cheryl Dameron, eighth season
2011 record: 3-7 (2-6 Northeast)
Returning letter winners: Two
Outlook: The Pioneers have had some awfully good players pass through in recent years, but the big names are gone now.

“We are rebuilding this year,” Dameron said.

SOUTHEAST LEAGUE

BASIC
Head coach: Bart Black, 17th season
2011 record: 3-7 (2-6 Southeast)
Returning letter winners: Five
Top players: Paige Blake (Jr.), Paula Ramirez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Wolves return only five players, but that includes Blake, who advanced to the quarterfinals in the Sunrise Region doubles tournament.

“We are young with not a lot of experience,” Black said.

FOOTHILL
Head coach: Matt Iglitz, seventh season
2011 record: 5-3 (5-3 Southeast)
Returning letter winners: Four
Top player: Lilly Nettles (So.)
Outlook: The Falcons have only two seniors and five juniors among the 17 players on the roster.

“We hope to compete for a playoff spot in the Southeast League, but we will have to overcome our inexperience and youth,” Iglitz said. “The team is made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores who are playing competitively for the first time.”

LIBERTY
Head coach: Kih Gourrier, seventh season
2011 record: 11-3 (7-1 Southeast)
Returning letter winners: Three
Top player: Sina Gebrai (Sr.)
Outlook: Only three letter winners are back for the Patriots, who will have a lot of new faces.
“The girls team is filled with freshmen and beginners,” Gourrier said. “The team should make the playoffs.”

DIVISION I-A SUNSET LEAGUE

CLARK
Head coach: Terri McLain, first season
2011 record: 6-4 (6-2 Southwest)
Returning letter winners: Eight
Top players: Connie Chau (Sr.), Celine Endy (Sr.), Sharon Fang (Sr.)
Outlook: The Chargers bring back eight players from a squad that placed third in the Southwest League last year.

“We have a solid core of returning players from last year’s team that went to the playoffs,” McLain said.

FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Jeff Foley, second season
2011 record: 9-4 (7-2 Northwest)
Returning letter winners: 12
Top players: Alexis Smith (Sr.), Rachel Taber (Jr.), Chandler Young (Jr.), Kathleen Wright (So.), Kristina Berg (So.)

Outlook: Taber was a Sunset Region quarterfinalist in doubles, and Wright advanced to the Round of 16 in singles last season.

The Crusaders were a playoff team last year and bring back plenty of depth.

“The girls had a taste of success on both team and individual levels last season, and they have worked hard in the offseason to achieve their goals for 2012,” Foley said. “Many of the returning girls have improved a good amount, and we have added some talent from the middle school program.

“We are hopeful of making the postseason again this season.”

DIVISION I-A SUNRISE LEAGUE

BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Eric Speaker, 11th season
2011 record: 5-5 (3-5 Southeast)
Top players: Aiyana Donske (Jr.), Melissa Oberto (So.)
Outlook: The Eagles are hoping a move to Division I-A can result in a postseason invitation.

DESERT PINES
Head coach: Jan Van Tuyl, third season
2011 record: 2-8 (1-7 Northeast)
Returning letter winners: Five
Top players: Ayde Murillo (Sr.), Karina Campos (Sr.), Mekham Singkhamta (Sr.), Dianne Esteller (Sr.)
Outlook: The Jaguars should be able to field a full team this year with nine players out for the squad.

Van Tuyl expects freshman Ashley Palacios to contribute, as well.

“The girls have worked very hard on fundamentals this summer,” Van Tuyl said. “We hope to improve on that this season. We will take it one match at a time.”

MOAPA VALLEY
Head coach: Donna Swanson, seventh season
2011 record: 4-6 (3-5 Northeast)
Top players: Jennessa Gates (Sr.), Sydney Widdison (Sr.)
Outlook: The Pirates are hoping to improve as a team.

“My main focus will be organization to develop the necessary skills for the advancement of our teams,” Swanson said. “I look forward to the growth factor.”