Following are the 2023 H.S. girls’ tennis preview capsules:

ECC DIVISION I

East Lyme

Head coach: Laurie Zrenda (19th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Mara Wolff (singles), Jr. Avni Kabra (singles), Jr. Avery Rindell (singles), Sr. Jeanette Liu (doubles), Sr. Riddhi Bansal (doubles), Sr. Gracie Davis (doubles), Jr. Donna Park (doubles), So. Nina McKiernan (doubles), So. Jayden Price (doubles), So. Addison Kan (doubles).

Top newcomers: So. Veronica Castro, Fr. Valentina Schiano, Fr. Lila Aram, Fr. Ruby Thoms, Fr. Jennifer Park.

Outlook: Wolff, a member of The Day’s All-Area team last spring and an ECC all-star returns along with fellow ECC all-star Rindell, who moves from doubles to singles this season. The Vikings must navigate their way through a difficult division, but Zrenda said, “We have some experienced singles and doubles players coming back, and I'm happy about the potential in some of our new players who will get some varsity doubles experience.”

Fitch

Head coach: Todd Higgins (24th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Julia Mielguj (singles), So. Charlotte Beaulieu (singles), So. Maddie Beaulieu (singles), Jr. Fiza Shariff (singles), So. Ada Ellis (doubles), So. Izzy Ash (doubles), Sr. Sophie Ash (doubles), Sr. Elizabeth Henderson (doubles), So. Kelly Turley (doubles), So. Isabel Gustavson (doubles), Jr. Nicolle Cardona (doubles).

Top newcomers: So. Ava Kennedy (doubles), Fr. Kathryn Virtue (doubles), Fr. Lucy Doyle-Kusy (doubles).

Outlook: The Falcons are coming off an 11-5 season and an appearance in the Class L quarterfinals. They return a veteran team led by Charlotte Beaulieu, who reached the ECC quarterfinals last spring as an 11th seed, and have experience in both singles and doubles. Higgins believes Fitch can be a contender in a strong division.

Stonington

Head coach: George Crouse (36th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Emily Fulling, Sr. Maddie Gonzalez, Sr. Annalise McGee, Jr. Grace Duggan, Jr. Lauren Buckley, Jr. Ecaterina Snegovskih, Jr. Angelina Williams, So. Marcella Hamm, So. Marina Lewandowski, So. Misha Lewandowski.

Top newcomers: So. Danielle Liston, Fr. Gwen McGugan, Jr. Maya Bengston, So. Bethany Schonecker, So. Elizabeth Jones, So. Samantha Harris.

Outlook: The Bears went 19-1 and won the Class M state title last spring, their only loss coming to Class S champion Old Lyme. They graduated four, including No. 1 singles player Maddie Hamm, but ECC doubles champions Marcella Hamm and Lauren Buckley return. “We lost some key players,” Crouse said. “but should be strong and with hard work compete for the ECC title and do well in states.”

Waterford

Head coach: Ed Kolnaski (7th season)

Key returnees: Jr. Sarah Hage (singles), Jr. Michelle Liu (singles), Jr. Ava Tinnerello (singles), Jr. Maple Siu (doubles), Sr. Ella Briggs (doubles), Jr. Brianne Kilcommons (doubles), Jr. Grace Stilphen (doubles), So. Hazel Siu (doubles).

Top newcomers: Sr. Kate Knight (doubles), Fr. Maria Hathaway (singles), So. Sophia Sit (doubles).

Outlook: The Lancers, who went 10-5 last season and reached the Class M quarterfinals, return the bulk of their lineup led by two-time ECC singles champion Hage. Waterford will certainly be challenged this season with three reigning state champions (Guilford, Stonington and Old Lyme) on its regular-season schedule.

ECC DIVISION II

Lyman Memorial

Head coach: Alexandria Fryer (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Nina Gardella (singles), Sr. Aria Nowosad, Jr. Amelia Wentworth, Sr. Kendall Breault (doubles), Sr. Skylar Hofman (doubles). Jr. Lexi Zimnoch (singles).

Outlook: After sharing the Division III title with St. Bernard last season, the Bulldogs move up to Division II with a solid cast of returnees. Gardella is expected to open the season at No. 1 singles with Nowosad and Wentworth providing quality experience at the Nos. 2 and 3 positions. “The team has been looking forward to getting back on the court for months,” Fryer said.

Note: Division II includes Killingly, NFA and Woodstock Academy.

ECC DIVISION III

Ledyard

Head coach: Emily Lehet (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Sarah Bailey, Sr. Katie Rezendes, Jr. Claire Fenaughty, Jr Kylie Gill, Jr. Sarah Banach, So. Alanah Maranzano.

Top newcomers: Jr. Cassie Rice, Fr. Rachel Kulterman.

Outlook: Lehet takes over as head coach of the Colonels, who moved down to Division III after going 8-7 a year ago. ECC all-stars Bailey (singles) and Gill-Maranzano (doubles) return. “We have a big mix of experienced and new tennis players and look to have each improve their skills through the season,” Lehet said.

Montville

Head coach: Jeff Brown (1st season)

Key returnees: So. Allie Kondash, So. Anneliese Beauchene, So. Jessica Hochdorfer.

Top newcomers: Fr. Tenzin Akartsang, Fr. Carolyn Barbosa, Fr. Taisha Barbosa, Fr. Kelly Chen, Fr. Angilina Liu, Fr. Winona Chen.

Outlook: Montville went 5-8 a year ago and is extremely young, but Kondash (singles) and the doubles team of Beauchene-Hochdorfer are returning ECC all-stars. Brown has a large freshman class and expects a competitive season in Division III.

New London

Head coach: Adwoa Bandele-Asante (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. Delande Forestal, So. Nakayla Isaac, Jr. Shaina Jean-Francois, Jr. Aisha Jules, So. Widberry Ledoux, Sr. Janiellys Morales, Jr. Cheadlen Petit-Frere, Jr. Jayla Taylor.

Top newcomers: So. Cashel Jones, Sr. Yary Mendez, Jr. Z'Nyah Thomas, Jr. Victoria Tillinghast, Fr. Michaella Skyers, Jr. Nysa Agathos, Fr. Nyasia Anthony, Sr. Vanissa Baron.

Outlook: Morales, Jules Ledoux and Jones will start at singles and the Whalers will be able to field some experienced doubles teams. New London did graduate their top three singles players, but Bandele-Asante believes the Whales will contend for the division title.

St. Bernard

Head coach: Kerrie Axt (3rd season)

Key returnees: Jr. Sasha Mazione (singles), Jr. Merzako Kambolli (singles), So. Blake Murray (singles), Jr. Carmela Rangel (singles), Jr. Theany Nguyen (doubles) Jr. Mia Gashi (doubles).

Outlook: The Saints reached the Class S tournament and won their first-round match last season, and have experience, particularly in singles. “Our singles players are looking good and sharp,” Axt said.

Note: Division III includes Windham/Windham Tech.

OTHERS

Grasso Tech

Head coach: Matt Zagura (8th season)

Key returnees: Ava Burdo, Aamorri DeRose, Kaitlyn Drake, Natalie Fana Germoso.

Top newcomers: Vera Bonville, Kyra Cho.

Outlook: The Eagles expect a much more competitive season within the Connecticut Technical Conference this spring with a nice mix of freshmen and upperclassmen.

Norwich Tech

Head coach: Emily Hayes (22nd year)

Key returnees: Jr. Alyssa Mikolajczak (singles), Jr. Ameris Moreno (singles), Sr. Imanni Johnson (singles), Sara Smith (singles), So. Zerrin Ratzer (doubles), Jr. Alexa Lopez (doubles), Sr. Ildanita Campos (doubles), So. Sophia Caballero (doubles), So. Alejandra Cardona (doubles).

Top newcomer: So. Emily Pomerleau (doubles).

Outlook: Despite graduating their top two singles players, Hayes believes the Warriors will be stronger this spring following a 5-5 season in 2022. “We’re ready to challenge and beat other schools in (the CTC),” she said.

Old Lyme

Head coach: Lauren Rahr (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Sam Tan (singles), Sr. Callie Bass (singles), Jr. Elaina Morosky (singles), Sr. Alexis Fenton (doubles), Sr. Livie Bass (doubles), Jr. Aggie Hunt (doubles), Jr. Beatrice Hunt (doubles), Jr. Izzy Reynolds (doubles).

Top newcomers: Jr. Natalie Buckley, Sr. Elsie Arafeh-Hudson, Fr. Katherine Zhang, Fr. Stella Young, Fr. Rose Dimmock.

Outlook: The Wildcats have won back-to-back Shoreline Conference and Class S state championships and bring a 43-match winning streak into the 2023 season. No. 1 singles player Abby Sicuranza was the biggest graduation loss, but Old Lyme will be strong again. “From day one, I could tell the girls had put in hard work over the offseason,” Rahr said, “and I can’t wait to see where it takes them.”