2018 Girls Tennis Capsule Previews
(As submitted by coaches)
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BASIC
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Bart Black, 21st season
2017 record: 5-7 (5-5 4A Sunrise/sixth)
Returning letter winners: Six
Top athletes: Tjaden Giles (Jr.), Miki Berg (Sr.), Macayla Schopp (Sr.), Sydney Black (Jr.)
Outlook: The Wolves return six letter winners from a squad that split its 10 league matches.
Giles, who finished 23-5 and advanced to the Sunrise Region quarterfinals in singles, and Berg (18-10, round of 16 in region singles) return to guide the squad. Schopp and Black also are back after playing on the top two doubles teams.
“Not a lot of experience,” Bart Black said. “We’re hoping to improve as the season progresses and perhaps win a match or two in the newly-expanded playoff structure.”
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BONANZA
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Patrick Herbert, first season
2017 record: 8-6 (8-5 4A Sunset/fifth)
Returning letter winners: Five
Top athletes: Kelsey Spence, Rachel Perez Soto, Rachel Wurmbrand
Outlook: Herbert takes over a team that returns five letter winners.
“The squad looks to make the playoffs to add to last year’s appearance,” Herbert said. “Some new faces and underclassmen will invigorate the program. A few key losses at the singles positions will force others to step up. They have some gigantic shoes to fill.”
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BOULDER CITY
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Jami Pappas, second season
2017 record: 17-3 (10-0 3A Sunrise/first)
Returning letter winners: Twelve
Top athletes: Olivia Mikkelson (Jr.), Tegan Pappas (Jr.), Olivia Goodfellow (Sr.), Natalie Bowman (Jr.), Katelyn Fox (Sr.)
Outlook: Last year’s Class 3A state runners-up return 12 letter winners, including state singles champion Mikkelson.
“The team is large with 18 players,” Jami Pappas said. “I have 12 returning athletes and have six incoming women, some of which are competition-level tennis players, so we are looking forward to a great year and some very good competition.”
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CENTENNIAL
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Rich Stevens
2017 record: 8-6 (8-5 4A Sunset/sixth)
Returning letter winners: Six
Top athletes: Hanna Robison, Lainey Waldman, Sara Alfas, Josie Wondra, Giselle Leyva, Lauren Rowe
Outlook: Robison and Waldman won 23 consecutive matches as a doubles team last year and are back to lead a group of six returnees for the Bulldogs.
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CHAPARRAL
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Barbara Padour, first season
2017 record: 3-7 (3-7 3A Sunrise/fifth)
Returning letter winners: Three
Top athletes: Karina Cosentino (Sr.), Lenella Cooper (Sr.), Bekah Terry (Sr.)
Outlook: Padour inherits a team with three returning letter winners.
“We look forward to coaching a mostly new team with majority of the members being their first year playing,” Padour said. “The athletes are eager to learn and improve their game.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Heather Scott, third season
2017 record: 1-12 (1-12 4A Sunset/tied for 13th)
Top athletes: Aaliyah Hanley (Sr.)
Outlook: Hanley returns after representing the Spartans in doubles in last year’s Sunset Region tournament.
Cimarron is hoping to be more competitive in league play.
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CLARK
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Kevin Lord, first season
2017 record: 13-3 (11-2 4A Sunset/third)
Returning letter winners: Thirty-eight
Top athletes: Audrey Boch-Collins, Joanna Yi, Esther Yi, Stela Licheva, Chanel Pulido
Outlook: Boch-Collins will aim for her third straight Class 4A singles title and try to help the Chargers compete for a top spot in the Desert Region.
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CORONADO
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: David Willingham, second season
2017 record: 15-0 (10-0 4A Sunrise/first)
Returning letter winners: Eight
Top athletes: Megan King (Jr.), Sidra Wohlend (So.), Ava Nhiasi (So.), Blythe Buntrock (Jr.), Kenedy Buntrock (Fr.), Paige Furin (Fr.)
Outlook: The Cougars bring back eight letter winners from a team that won the Class 4A state championship during an undefeated season.
King and Wohlend were the runners-up in the Class 4A state doubles tournament, and Nhiasi also competed in the state doubles tourney.
“Coronado is looking to repeat with an even stronger 2018 team,” Willingham said. “Coronado is returning seven of the top nine players from 2017. In addition, we are adding multiple top-ranked newcomers. It should be a fantastic year.”
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DEL SOL
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Will Schultz, third season
2017 record: 0-12 (0-10 3A Sunrise/sixth)
Returning letter winners: Three
Top athletes: Melissa Burnett (So.), Emma Bartel (So.), Brooklyn McCloud (So.), Anna Balsicas (Jr.)
Outlook: The Dragons are young with underclassmen comprising the expected top players.
“We hope to have multiple winning individual records with a young team,” Schultz said. “We hope to have some team wins and finish in the top half in the conference.”
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FAITH LUTHERAN
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Jeff Foley, eighth season
2017 record: 16-5 (10-3 4A Sunset/fourth)
Returning letter winners: Eighteen
Top athletes: Jade Mayweather (Sr.), Summer Stadtlander (Sr.), Kelsie Seigle (Sr.), Kennedy Barr (Jr.), Elyse Dulaine (So.)
Outlook: The Crusaders made their first trip to the Class 4A state tournament and fifth state tournament appearance overall last year.
And it may have been just the opening act.
The entire starting lineup is back for Faith Lutheran, sparked by Mayweather (37-8, state qualifier in singles), Barr (35-6), Stadtlander (36-14) and region doubles quarterfinalists Seigle (33-13) and Dulaine (35-15).
“With all nine starters back from a team that qualified for the state tournament, including six players that won at least 30 matches a year ago, Faith has high hopes for 2018,” Foley said.
The Crusaders also have several strong newcomers and return a starter from the 2016 squad who sat out last year because of injury.
Foley said this may be his best team yet at Faith Lutheran.
“The intense competition for playing time that comes with a deep roster will serve as the impetus for a playoff run,” he added.
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FOOTHILL
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Matt Iglitz, 13th season
2017 record: 11-4 (9-1 4A Sunrise/second)
Returning letter winners: Seven
Top athletes: Isabelle Hanon (So.)
Outlook: Hanon went 24-5 in singles last season and is among seven returning letter winners for the Falcons.
“The Falcons return several key players from last year’s team which finished second in the Sunrise Region and advanced to the region semifinals,” Iglitz said. “Many of our players are excited to have the opportunity to build off of the strongest season in school history.
“With the new playoff format in place, we will use league play as an opportunity to experiment with singles and doubles combinations, but primarily, we will focus on having fun and providing equal opportunities for our players.”
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GREEN VALLEY
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Kelli Grimm, fourth season
2017 record: 10-4 (8-2 4A Sunrise/third)
Outlook: The Gators have had one of the top programs in the valley in recent years and hope to continue the run this year.
“We will continue to work hard as a team while committing ourselves to excellence on and off the court,” Grimm said.
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LAS VEGAS
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Norman Mendiola, fourth season
2017 record: 3-9 (3-7 4A Sunrise/eighth)
Outlook: The Wildcats will have a lot of new faces this year.
“It’s a total rebuild,” Mendiola said.
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LIBERTY
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Kih Gourrier, 13th season
2017 record: 9-4 (7-3 4A Sunrise/fourth)
Returning letter winners: Three
Top athletes: Anna Pfarrer (So.)
Outlook: The Patriots finished fourth in the Class 4A Sunrise League last year, but return only three letter winners.
“It’s a young team with plenty of energy and desire,” Gourrier said. “Looking to build skills and understand doubles strategies to build the team for upcoming years.”
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MOAPA VALLEY
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Gavin Coburn, first season
2017 record: 10-5 (8-2 3A Sunrise/second)
Top athletes: Aubrey Aikele (Jr.), Averee Widdison (Jr.)
Outlook: Aikele and Widdison teamed to advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A doubles tournament last season and return to be among the leaders on this year’s squad.
“We hope to compete for one of the top spots in 3A,” Coburn said. “We have many girls returning that have been working to improve their game and hope to do better than last year.”
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MOJAVE
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Andrew Addison, first season
2017 record: 0-13 (0-12 3A Sunset/tied for sixth)
Returning letter winners: One
Top athletes: Poleth Rodriguez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Rattlers didn’t have the requisite six players last year for much of last season, and went winless as a result.
They’re hoping to remedy that problem this year.
“We hope to field a full team this year,” Addison said.
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PALO VERDE
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Rick Coop, second season
2017 record: 14-1 (13-0 4A Sunset/first)
Returning letter winners: Fourteen
Top athletes: Shelby Graber (Sr.), Kaya Richardson (Sr.), Caroline Hsu (Jr.)
Outlook: The Panthers’ only loss last season came in a tiebreaker in the Sunset Region semifinals and ended a run of three straight state championships.
With 14 letter winners back, Palo Verde is set up for another big year.
“After a tough loss during the semifinals in the 2017 region tournament, Lady Panthers have been sharpening their skills in the offseason and have been eagerly awaiting their first match in the 2018 season, keeping in mind that they are one team with one goal,” Coop said.
Graber teamed with Isabella Shelton to win the Class 4A state doubles title last year.
“We are taking the season day by day at this point and are focusing on skills, effort and attitude,” Coop said. “ As always we will look to put our best student-athletes on the court that can meet this expectation on and off the court and can fulfill the Panther promise.
“We are looking forward to the challenges of the new season.”
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RANCHO
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Peter Cernak, second season
2017 record: 4-11 (2-8 4A Sunrise/ninth)
Returning letter winners: Four
Top athletes: Anakaren Martinez (Sr.), Azana West (Sr.), Lorena DelaTorre (Sr.), Liz Parra (Jr.)
Outlook: The Rams return four letter winners from a team that narrowly missed out on a postseason berth.
“The team is looking forward to improving on its record from last year,” Cernak said. “These girls have been hard at work over the summer, waking up at 6 a.m. to practice before the heat.
“Their hard work and determination will pay dividends during the season as they will see improvements in their tennis play.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
League: Class 4A Mountain
Head coach: Arthur Cassman, third season
2017 record: 2-11 (2-11 4A Sunset/tied for 11th)
Returning letter winners: Ten
Top athletes: Caitlin Covington (Sr.), Lexi Cassman (Sr.), Rachel Gadeski (Jr.)
Outlook: The Mustangs return 10 letter winners from last year’s squad and hope to be more competitive in the Mountain League.
“Our focus is zoning our shots and mental toughness,” Cassman said.
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SIERRA VISTA
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Keith Ulrich, fourth season
2017 record: 6-7 (6-7 4A Sunset/ninth)
Returning letter winners: Seven
Top athletes: Andrada Stanciu (Sr.), Ariana Stanciu (So.)
Outlook: The Stanciu sisters teamed to finish third in last year’s Class 4A state doubles tournament and lead a group of seven returning letter winners.
“Sierra Vista expects to compete for a top-four seed in league play,” Ulrich said.
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SILVERADO
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Matt Philips, seventh season
2017 record: 4-9 (4-6 4A Sunrise/seventh)
Returning letter winners: Ten
Top athletes: Kathryn Carder (Jr.), Morgan Seiler (Sr.)
Outlook: Carder went 20-12 last season, and Seiler was 21-14.
They’re among 10 returnees for the Skyhawks, who are hoping to show improvement this season.
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SPRING VALLEY
League: Class 4A Desert
Head coach: Robert Bloom, 15th season
2017 record: 6-8 (6-7 4A Sunset/seventh)
Returning letter winners: Five
Top athletes: Nicole Attallah (So.), Seda Sargsyan (So.), Jennifer Do (Jr.)
Outlook: Attallah advanced to the round of 16 in last year’s Class 4A Sunset Region tournament and highlights a list of five returnees for the Grizzlies.
“We will be competitive and hope to earn a middle seed or better going into the team regional tournament,” Bloom said. “Nicole Attallah will be fighting to earn a berth in the state individual tournament.”
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VALLEY
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Jeff Barney, third season
2017 record: 7-5 (6-4 4A Sunrise/fifth)
Returning letter winners: Six
Top athletes: Claire Angel (Sr.), Alexandra Angelov (Sr.), Alexandra Jianu (Sr.), Deanine Dilworth (Sr.), Ashley Cantu (So.)
Outlook: The Vikings bring back six letter winners that helped the team to a fifth-place finish in the Class 4A Sunrise League last year.
“We have a few experienced players returning with a couple of new players,” Barney said. “We hope to be competitive and make a playoff push this year.”
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VIRGIN VALLEY
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Robert Nelson, third season
2017 record: 5-9 (4-6 3A Sunrise/fourth)
Returning letter winners: Two
Top athletes: Emma Wilson (Sr.), Daisy Sanchez (Jr.)
Outlook: The Bulldogs have only two returning letter winners from last year’s playoff team.
“We have a number of girls who are just learning the game, so this year will be all about laying the foundation for them to grow in the sport,” Nelson said.
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WESTERN
League: Class 3A Southern
Head coach: Derek Thomas, second season
2017 record: 3-9 (3-9 3A Sunset/fifth)
Returning letter winners: One
Top athletes: Justice Lefear (So.)
Outlook: Lefear is the lone returning letter winner for the Warriors, who will have new group of young players.
“This will be a rebuilding year after losing five seniors to graduation,” Thomas said. “Justice and all the new players will fly under the radar as we grow as a team.
“It will be fun to see what they can accomplish.”
