YAIAA preview: Girls' tennis
The fall high school sports season is less than a month away. To kick off our coverage, we are previewing every sport with preseason rankings, athletes to watch, games to watch and team breakdowns.
To open this summertime preview of the coming YAIAA fall season, let's take a look at girls' tennis. To note, these previews are fluid leading up to the season and first practices, which begin Aug. 12. They can change, based on what we're hearing from area coaches.
Without further ado, serve's up for girls' tennis:
PRESEASON TOP 5
1. Susquehannock
2. York Catholic
3. Biglerville
4. York Suburban
5. Central York
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Katie Wagner, Susquehannock, Sr.
Carlee Brumgard, Biglerville, Sr.
Olivia Purtell, West York, Sr.
Maddie Kepner, York Catholic, So.
DIVISION I BREAKDOWN
● Defending league champion Katie Wagner
knows how to keep busy. In the winter, she starts on the basketball team that reached the district finals last season. In the spring, she runs track and helped a relay team win a league title. Tennis might be her best sport, though. The YAIAA’s top tennis player returns to Susquehannock (13-2, 8-0 last year) after winning 23 matches last season. Wagner will not be joined by her doubles partner from last season, junior Adriana Bullaj, who also earned all-league honors. Bullaj is working on her junior USTA ranking. Senior Usha Baublitz will take Bullaj's place as Susquehannock's No. 2 player and is expected to become Wagner's doubles partner.
● Dallastown (10-4, 7-1) moves on without the graduated Emily Westenberger and Danielle Lucabaugh. Westenberger made the all-star team last season as a singles player and with Lucabaugh as a doubles team.
● Central York (8-3, 6-2) graduated Emily Kuhn after her standout career for the Panthers. Kuhn’s postseason doubles partner, Taylor Strausbaugh, is slated to return for her senior year.
● South Western (7-5, 5-3) brings back juniors Rachel Fabrick and Cassidy Mart, who will likely serve as the Mustangs' Nos. 1 and 2 players, after graduating league all-star Mackenzie Bortner.
● Spring Grove (8-5, 4-4) will lean on seniors Haley Staub, Emma Hoffnagle and junior Amanda Craver. Junior Mickaela Taylor also is expected to join the singles and doubles fold for the Rockets.
DIVISION II BREAKDOWN
● York Catholic (13-2, 8-0) returns sophomore Maddie Kepner but graduated Anna Spoden, last year’s YAIAA Class AA player of the year. She beat Carlee Brumgard of Biglerville (9-4, 6-2) last season in the league championship match, which makes Brumgard an early favorite to take this year’s title. In addition to Brumgard, the Canners also return junior Jenna Glass.
● Olivia Purtell also returns for West York (6-5, 4-4). The senior took over the Bulldogs’ No. 1 role a year ago and earned all-league honors in the process.
● Kennard-Dale (13-2, 7-1) is coming off its best season as a program and had Jess Wernig voted to the league all-star team. Wernig graduated, but the Rams are slated to return sophomore Alyssa Miller, who at times teamed with Wernig in doubles.
● York Suburban (7-6, 5-3) should return most of its lineup from last year, when coach Rebecca Toman won coach-of-the-year honors. Among those players expected back: junior Erika Toman and Nikki Spaulding. The two teamed up at times last season, as did junior Jessica Clancy and Abby London. While London graduated, junior Nneoma Amaechi is another player expected back.
● Littlestown will look for a No. 1 player and had numerous freshmen, who are returning to this year's team. Top singles players should be Morgan Willet, Sarah Hansen, Alyssa Sterling and Brooke Treadway.
MARK THE CALENDAR
● Thursday, Sept. 26: Biglerville at York Catholic – The Division II regular-season title could hang in the balance with this finale a week before postseason play begins.
● Monday, Oct. 7: YAIAA singles championship at South Western.
● Wednesday, Oct. 9: YAIAA doubles championship at South Western.