ECC Division I
East Lyme
Coach: Laurie Zrenda (17th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Caroline French, Sr. Ella Arustei, Sr. Alissa Li, Jr. Yurina Shirai, Jr. Iris Liu, Jr. Ritisha Ande.
Top newcomers: So. Mara Wolff, So. Jeannette Liu, So. Riddhi Bansai, Fr. Avni Kabra, Fr. Avery Rindell.
Outlook: The Vikings have been hit by graduation losses each of the last two seasons, including All-ECC doubles player Liz Beaulieu, but Zrenda is still encouraged. Shirai and French will occupy two of the singles positions while newcomers Wolff and Kabra will also be in the mix. “I think we will have a strong singles roster,” Zrenda said. “Missing the experience of not having a season last year is tough, but I think this will be a successful year for us.”
Fitch
Coach: Todd Higgins (21st season)
Key returnees: Sr. Fiona Kennedy, Sr. Hayden Kowalski, Sr. Haley Rodgers, Sr. Ariana Timmerman, Sr. Gabriela Garcia Patel, Jr. Kristine Lee, Jr. Lily Cartier, Jr. Katelyn Cervini, Jr. Anna Servidio, Sr. Shiddhi Patel, Sr. Anjali Patel, Sr. Michaela Ellis.
Top newcomers: Fr. Julia Mielgu, Jr. Carly Straub, Fr. Fiza Shariff.
Outlook: The Falcons, despite missing last season, return an experienced lineup in both singles and doubles. Higgins also is encouraged by the addition of a promising freshman class that will be able to challenge his veterans for varsity positions and keep Fitch competitive in the ECC.
Ledyard
Coach: Scott Woodruff (1st season)
Key returnees: Sr. Abby Dirico, Sr. Bianca Planeta, Sr. Jill Rezendes, Sr. Hannah Jones, Sr. Haley Kulterman, Sr. Mackenzie Peluso.
Top newcomers: So. Sarah Bailey, Fr. Claire Fenaughty.
Outlook: Dirico, who played No. 1 singles as a sophomore, is back to lead the Colonels while fellow senior Planeta moves into the No. 2 singles spot. Woodruff, who takes over the program, said a large group of sophomores from 2019 are now seniors. “They give us depth,” he said, “and we should be competitive at every position. … The Colonels are feeling good about this season.”
New London
Coach: Krista Pulie (1st season)
Key returnees: Sr. Sabrina Bloise, Jr. Emily Fielding, Jr. Mary Lembree, Jr. Taina Smith.
Top newcomer: Fr. Ariana Hernandez Ponce.
Outlook: Pulie takes over at New London and although the numbers are down and the Whalers are young, she said, “The team is very excited to have a season.”
NFA
Coach: Chris Portelance (3rd year)
Key returnees: Sr. Anna Slopak, Jr. Paige Raposo, Jr. Emily Eggler, So. Katrina Hitchcock, Sr. Laura Danieluk, Sr. Valeria Yraita.
Top newcomers: Sr. Sarah Ericson, Sr. Anajah Ingram, Sr. Jenissa Varela, Sr. Cassidy White.
Outlook: Portelance, who has been involved in various tennis programs for over 35 years, said this is the deepest team he’s ever coached. The Wildcats return most of their varsity players, led by Slopak at No. 1 singles, and Portelance has welcomed four starters from NFA’s unbeaten basketball team, including all-state guards Ericson and Varela. Portelance expects the Wildcats to challenge for ECC division honors, “and regain prominence in girls’ tennis.”
Stonington
Coach: George Crouse (35th season)
Key returnees: Jr. Maddie Hamm, Jr. Maddie Gonsalvez, Jr. Mia Lewandowski, Jr. Grace Milne, Jr. Katie Johnstone, Jr. Chloe Morehouse, Jr. Erin Motherway.
Top newcomers: Fr. Katia Snegovskik, Fr. Lauren Buckley, Fr. Angelina Williams, Jr. Alex Fidrych, Fr. Maya Bengston, So. Isla Pearson, So. Sarah Schoenecker, So. Emily Fulling, So. Annalise McGee.
Outlook: The Bears return an experienced team led by Hamm, who won the ECC singles championship as a freshman in 2019. Crouse said it’s been a competitive preseason with players challenging for varsity positions, but he continues to tinker with new players who will fill out his doubles roster.
Waterford
Coach: Ed Kolnaski (6th season)
Key returnees: Sr. Alli Silva, Sr. Jen Leblanc, Sr. Nitya Somineni, Sr. Nidhi Somineni, Jr. Autumn Brothers.
Top newcomers: Sr. Summer Sit, Fr. Sarah Hage, Fr. Michelle Liu.
Outlook: No. 1 singles player Hayley Wheeler graduated, but Silva, Brothers, and freshman Hage will play singles roles and the Lancers have some experienced doubles players in LeBlanc and the Somineni sisters. “We’re looking forward to a fun year,” Kolnaski said. “It’s great to get back after missing last year.”
ECC Division II
Lyman Memorial
Coach: Alexandria Fryer (4th season)
Key returnees: Grace Gardella, Anna Campbell.
Top newcomer: Nina Gardella.
Outlook: The Bulldogs are young this year and will feature several freshmen and sophomores in both singles and doubles. “We’re looking forward to building up skills and strengthening our doubles strategy,” said Fryer, adding that Grace Gardella will play No. 1 singles.
Montville
Coach: Anthony Occhialini (1st season)
Top newcomers: Allyson Boyer, Sydney Kolz, Isabella Marrero, Cai Ru, Angie Bunay, Natalie Emmons, Yuying Wu, Molly Chaney, Alivia Lambert, Fioina Lau, Savannah Vichas.
Outlook: Occhialini, who leads Montville’s boys’ soccer program, will try to rebuild the girls’ tennis program after missing out on the 2020 season due to the pandemic. “This will be a year of growth and we will look to build a solid foundation for the future,” Occhialini said. “We have an amazing group of girls who have the determination to bring this program to the next level.”
St. Bernard
Coach: Kerrie Axt (1st season)
Key returnees: Jr. Olivia Busher, Jr. Julia Ferris, Sr. ArihJay Villon-Nahue, Sr. Trizia Lao-ang, Sr. Franchella Mariano, Jr. Onatasha Parfitt.
Top newcomers: Fr. Sasha Manzioine, Fr. Zhuning Gao, Fr. Merzako Kambolli, Fr. Yailanis Gutierrez.
Outlook: Axt takes over a program that will feature a nice mix of experience. Busher and Ferris move from doubles to singles while Villon-Nahue and Lao-ang return at doubles along with Mariano and Parfitt. Freshmen Manzioine and Gao will also play singles. “This is a very fun group,” Axt said. “They very much look forward to being on the courts … for them it is about simply being able to play.”
Others
Grasso Tech
Coach: Matthew Zagura
Key returnees: Katherine Chacon, Naya Peck
Top newcomers: Natalie Fana Geermoso, Abigail Lalllis.
Outlook: Zagura is just happy to get back on the court with a young team that features several underclassmen and has a full Connecticut Technical Conference schedule.
Norwich Tech
Coach: Emily Hayes (12th season)
Key returnees: Jr. Lily Armstrong, Jr. Amber Kerby, Jr. Arelis Caballero.
Top newcomer: Fr. Amaris Moreno.
Outlook: Hayes calls the 2021 season in the CTC a rebuilding year of “epic proportions” because several players opted out of playing due to COVID-19 concerns. “A year lost to play, grow and learn is difficult enough, it is as though we are starting from scratch,” she said. “However, all agree, getting out on the court is better than not.”
Old Lyme
Coach: Lauren Rahr (1st season)
Key returnees: Sr. Lauren Wallace, Sr. Sophia Ortoleva, Jr. Fiona Hufford.
Top newcomers: Jr. Abigail Sicuranza, So. Alexis Fenton, So. Callie Bass, So. Izzadora Reynolds, So. Livie Bass, So. Samantha Tan, Fr. Elaina Morosky.
Outlook: Seniors Wallace and Ortoleva will provide experience for the Wildcats, but Rahr is excited to welcome a large sophomore class to her first season as head coach in the always strong Shoreline Conference. “The underclassmen bring energy and hope to a team that graduated many varsity members,” Rahr said.