The Valley Regional girls’ tennis team had a remarkable regular season and commendable push through the state tournament. And while the Warriors came up just short for the third time against a league rival, they still competed with the heart, resolve, and composure worth of a state-title club.

The Warriors blazed through the regular season to the tune of an impressive 12-2 record. Following Shoreline Conference Tournament action, Valley entered the Class S State Tournament as the No. 4 seed. There, the Warriors first took down conference rival and 13th seed Coginchaug 6-1 in the first round on May 24. Valley then swept aside No. 5 Coventry 7-0 in the quarterfinals on May 28, and then upended top-ranked Litchfield 4-3 on May 29-30 to put the Warriors through to the final.

At center court of the finals, which took place on May 31 at Conard High School, Valley faced a familiar foe in second-seeded Old Lyme—the squad that handed Valley their two lone blemishes of the season with 4-3 defeats. Despite a valiant effort, the Warriors came up just short with a 5-2 loss to conclude the campaign with a superb mark of 15-3 overall under first-year Head Coach Sage Novak.

“When I got the phone call on February 12 from Valley's Athletic Director, Lewis Pappariella, that the team needed a coach and would I take on the role, never in a million years did I think I would coach the team all the way into the Class S State Final,” said Novak. “We knew early on into the season we would qualify to compete in states because we quickly jumped out to a 6-0 start.”

After finishing the season with a record of 12-2, the Warriors jumped right into Shorelines, which is not a team competition but rather an individual one. Senior Clara Shea, at No. 3 singles, won the No. 3/4 singles bracket against Old Lyme.

“She was battling tendonitis in her wrist, and she and her opponent went three sets,” said Novak of Shea at Shorelines. “Their rallies were never-ending, and the Old Lyme coach and I started counting how long each point took; it was incredible tennis. As a senior, Clara knew she had to fight through the pain, and when she won, it was just incredible. I was so proud of her.”

Also at Shorelines, the No. 1 doubles team of junior Regan Grow and sophomore Hannah Smith made it to the championship round for the doubles bracket and took home the runner-up spot.

On the day against Old Lyme in the state final, Valley’s two victories came at No. 4 singles by freshman Riley Russell–prevailing in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, and the No. 2 doubles tandem of sophomore Ella Smith and junior Sophia Bonanno, who capped an undefeated season together with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph.

Also competing in singles on the afternoon were seniors Joanna Petrone, Natalie Novak, and Clara Shea. In doubles action, also competing vs. Old Lyme were Grow and Hannah Smith, along with the No. 3 duo of junior Hannah Faucher and sophomore Ella Martinez.

Not only did the Warriors have to contend with a quick turnaround after the Shoreline draws, but they had to play a four-round tournament condensed into a week. They then had another challenge heaped upon them by traveling back and forth to Litchfield in a contest that spanned two days.

“We then had two days of practice to prepare for the opening round of the state tournament after Shorelines,” said Novak. “ By the time we got [to Litchfield], we were trying to shake the cobwebs off and up the energy level for taking on the best team in the Class S bracket. We warmed up and started playing, and it was clear when my No. 1 and 2 singles both had to go to tie-breaks in their first set, we were in for a long, very competitive match. Mother Nature had other ideas though, and after two rain delays under apparently the only rain cloud in the whole state that day, we decided to hit the road at 7:30 p.m. and had to make the trip again the very next day to resume play. Senior captains Joanna Petrone and Natalie Novak cranked it into high gear and made quick work of their Litchfield counterparts to finish out their matches in two sets. Shortly after, Clara Shea clinched her win at No. 3 singles. What sealed the deal and launched us to the final was when No. 2 doubles won their match. Sophomore Ella Smith and junior Sophia Bonanno were determined to stay undefeated, and it paid off. The bus ride home was joyful, and the girls were thrilled to have upset the top-seeded team!”

Valley also had three players qualify for the State Invitational. Novak competed in the singles bracket, and the team of Grow and Hannah Smith participated in the doubles bracket. Novak was quick to commend her captains for the sacrifices they have committed and putting any senior soirees aside for the betterment of the team.

“The seniors and captains had a huge impact on this team. Their experience and even-keeled demeanor were huge factors behind our success,” said Novak. “They sacrificed their senior week activities and trips to compete in the state tournament for five long days. That says so much that they didn't even bat an eyelash; they knew what they had to do to take it all the way. The examples they have set for the other girls are admirable and what a coach looks for in team leaders. They will be missed so much by myself and by their teammates.”

The time crunch of consistently having to step up in the clutch was nothing new for the Valley team who was plenty battle-tested when it came to overcoming new hurdles and adversity. New players, new coaches, new injuries, it did not matter. The one constant was what mattered: the dedication and persistence of the girls to push through.

“Handling the pressure of states right after the grueling multi-day slog that is Shorelines was nothing for this team. They've known setbacks and pressure this entire season and have only ever dug deep and risen above,” said Novak. “From losing two starters to serious injuries before our first match of the season, to having an inexperienced coach, to relying on alternates to step up and fill in when illness took away starters on multiple occasions, this team has guts and grit and determination, and not once did they stop believing. Each and every one of them deserved it, and although the season just ended, I already miss them! That's how special they are.”

The Warriors’ 2024 roster is comprised of seniors Novak, Petrone, Hannah Schwartzman, Shea; junior Bonanno, Faucher, Grow, Alessia Pisanzio; sophomores Hannah Smith, Ella Smith, Abigail Alexander, Caitlin Brady, Martinez, Anna Farray, Sydney Liggett, Alana Martinez; plus freshmen Katie DeMik, Cameron Donoghue, Jenna Fowler, Charlotte Kolb, Hawley Kornacki, Upel Lhamo, Erza Morina, Russell, and Talia Shankar.

2024 Valley Regional Girls’ Tennis Team Regular Season Results

April 1: Valley Regional 5, Coginchaug 2

April 5: Valley Regional 6, Morgan 1

April 15: Valley Regional 6, Cromwell 1

April 16: Valley Regional 6, East Hampton 1

April 17: Valley Regional 7, North Branford 0

April 19: Valley Regional 7, Old Saybrook 0

April 22: Old Lyme 4, Valley Regional 3

April 24: Valley Regional 6, Westbrook 1

April 25: Valley Regional 7, Portland 0

April 29: Valley Regional 6, Coginchaug 1

May 1: Old Lyme 4, Valley Regional 3

May 6: Valley Regional 7, Portland 0

May 7: Valley Regional 7, Morgan 0

May 10: Valley Regional 7, Haddam-Killingworth 0