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03/03/2024 11:59 PMWith a new leader at the helm, the Valley Regional girls’ tennis team is ready to stay steady on the road to prominence within their league and state rankings, while doing it with infectious excitement and energy towards the game.
A year ago, the Warriors came into the season with 17 total players when the dust settled on the year–a dozen of them being returning varsity players, in addition to a half dozen freshmen at the onset of the spring.
Valley then cruised to an 11-3 regular-season record, with all 10 girls in the starting lineup between singles and doubles earning eligibility to compete in the Shoreline Conference Tournament. Valley then fell as the No. 8 seed in the first round of the Class M State Tournament to 9th-seeded and eventual-champion Hand by a 6-1 final at home on May 26.
New first-year Head Coach Sage Novak explained that she inherited a group that has a solid balance of savvy veterans and several upstarts. She detailed that the Warriors are going to work diligently day in and day out to cease a five-year conference crown drought.
“This Valley squad is primed for success. We are going into the season confident that we are going to make some noise in the Shoreline Conference, and hopefully take the championship,” said Novak. “2019 was the last time Valley girls’ tennis took home the Shoreline crown, and we're going to work to bring it back. We have tremendous players in our upperclassmen, and they are supported by a field of very talented underclassmen.”
Leading the charge for Valley are two dynamic senior captains in Joanna Petrone and Natalie Novak. Coach Novak noted that she is quite familiar with their athletic skill set from earlier this school year, on an indoor court of a different surface.
“I could not be luckier in having these two at the helm, as they are experienced leaders having both captained the Valley Volleyball team in the fall. They led their volleyball team all the way to the Shoreline finals and the state semis, so they have experienced intense postseason play,” said Novak. “Last spring, when our No. 1 singles player tore her ACL at the beginning of the tennis season, both Joanna and Natalie had to step up to fill the No. 1 and 2 singles positions, and accepted the challenge with positivity and confidence. They performed their new roles with great success, and were awarded spots for Joanna in the Honorable Mention All-Shoreline group, and Natalie reaching the Second Team All-Shoreline.”
Furthermore, Novak knows that in her first campaign at the helm and getting acclimated to the girls and overall atmosphere, she will lean on the tandem as a conduit of communication. Both have the right touch of tenacity and levity when it comes to being exceptional role models to emulate.
“As a brand new coach, I know I will be able to rely on them to help run drills, nurture the underclassmen, and lead with both strength and kindness,” said Novak. “Both Joanna and Natalie have a mental fortitude about their game play, which is a key reason behind their success, and I know they will help the younger players develop their own sense of mental confidence in the sport of tennis. Plus they both have great senses of humor! Success and fun have tended to go hand-in-hand with this tennis team over the years, and I expect the 2024 season to be no different.”
Looking further down the singles slate, senior Hannah Schwartzman returns to No. 3 singles after assuming the slot last spring. Additionally, doubles veteran Clara Shea has stepped over to solo competition due to voids left by the 2023 graduating class, after being one half of the top tandem the last two seasons.
“I am extremely fortunate to have four experienced seniors on our team, and they all care about each other, which creates a wonderful sense of community throughout the whole group,” said Novak. “Hannah Schwartzman also had to rise to the occasion last season, moving up to No. 3 singles from 4. She, too, has shown great improvement in her game play, and I look forward to seeing her experience even greater success this year. She is a hard worker and fun-loving, and really enjoys giving her all on the court. With her partner having graduated last year, Clara is eager to step into a singles position on the team. She is a very athletic and competitive player, and I have every confidence that she will shine on her own in a singles position.”
As for the doubles end of things, Alessia Pisanzio and Regan Grow, both juniors, were 12-2 last season in the No. 2 doubles position, and both garnered a spot on the Second Team All-Shoreline, as did Shea in 2023 . Juniors Sophia Bonanno and Hannah Faucher figure as key players in the doubles groupings as well.
“They are also the best of friends, and are totally in-tune with the way the other plays in a match. They will be exciting to watch as they step up their game and take on a new level of play,” said Novak. “ When paired together last year as varsity alternates, Sophia and Hannah were undefeated, and I am really looking forward to seeing how they have grown as players.”
In the sophomore class, Abi Alexander, Caitlin Brady, Alana Martinez, and twins Ella and Hannah Smith will be joined this season by fellow sophomores Sydney Liggett and Anna Farray. There is also a sensational set of seven freshmen with Katie deMik, Cameron Donoghue, Scout Kornacki, Upel Lhamo, Erza Morina, Riley Russell, and Talia Shankar, ready to add to the bright prospects for the long term trajectory of the team.
“My crop of sophomores this year are the best bunch of girls. As freshmen, they were huge supporters of their teammates and worked very hard during practices,” Novak said. “When given the opportunities to play in alternate matches, they combined for an impressive 28-5 record! Abi will take on a different role this year and is our team manager, and I am so grateful to have the help! We have seven new freshmen that are joining the team, which is amazing! The future of Valley tennis is bright!”
As she begins to embark on this new journey, Novak sets out with a mind and heart full of gratitude. She is ready to leave her own mark in continuing the welcoming and inclusive culture around the program that has yielded great successes, and looks to produce more victories.
“My daughter is a senior on the team, and I have loved watching Valley girls’ tennis for the last three seasons. Essentially, when it became clear that there were no coaching candidates who had come forward with just a month before the season officially started, I knew I had to step up. These athletes are an amazing group and are posed to do extremely well this season. I am so honored to have the chance to work with this talented group of young women. It is such a privilege for me to have the opportunity to coach this team. The culture of Valley girls’ tennis is one of sportsmanship and friendship. This, combined with our healthy sense of competition, will ensure an exciting and successful season!”