Sydni Greenhoe of Portland lines up a forehand during her #3 singles finals match with Grace Mohr of Lansing Catholic last season. Greenhoe is one of several returning starters for the Raiders in 2016.
Note:-S–singles, D–doubles, sr.–senior, jr.–junior, so.–sophomore, fr.–freshman
CAAC BLUE
Coaches’ predictions: 1. Okemos, 2. Holt, 3. East Lansing, 4. Grand Ledge, 5. Jackson, 6. Eastern, 7. Everett, 8. Sexton
Top players: Caroline Baidoon (East Lansing), Isabella Ndlebe (East Lansing), Alisa Sabotic (Okemos), Monika Francsics (Okemos), Rylie Gilman (Holt), Kylie Kaser (Holt)
EASTERN
No information submitted.
EAST LANSING
Last year: 3rd
Coach: Cosette Buckberry (3rd season)
Top returning players: Caroline Baidoon (sr. S), Isabella Ndlebe (sr. S), Amna Ahmad (sr. D), Eliana Kaplowitz (sr. D), Stephanie Vanis (sr. D), Valery Gomez (sr. D)
Other contributors: Emily Hoban (sr.), Celeste Rubino (jr.), Celina Stevens (jr.), Hannah Jones (jr.), Cameron Simmons (jr.)
Outlook: After losing just two seniors from last year’s team, the Trojans return an experienced group of players. Baidoon, Ndlebe and Ahmad are four-year players. Buckberry believes Hoban, a senior, will add to East Lansing’s depth as well.
EVERETT
Coach: Judy Kramer (4th season)
Top returning players: Alivia Pulido (sr. S), Brianna Monroe (jr. D), Sabrina Wallace (sr. D), Arlexeia Bernard (sr. D), Jaelyn McClain (jr. S)
Other contributors: Sadie Austin (so. S), Zarla Cannon (jr. D), Vivian Ho (so. D), Kenna Yoder (so. D), Alex Williams (jr. S)
Outlook: The Vikings lost eight players to graduation, but Kramer said she returns “several seasons upperclassmen who are emerging as leaders.” Wallace is a four-year varsity player and Pulido, Monroe and Bernard are three-year performers. Kramer added that her team developed over the off-season and are “enjoying the results of these efforts.”
GRAND LEDGE
Last year: 4th
Coach: Mike Richey (11th season)
Top returning players: Kiara Berry (sr. S), Sarah Heriford (sr. S/D), Berni Garibay (sr. S/D), Abbey Feenstra, Jenna Conn (sr. S/D), Maddie Orwat (sr. S/D), Jenna Riekse (sr. S/D), Katie Ransom (jr. S/D)
Other contributors: Lauryn Moran (jr. S/D)
Outlook: The Comets have several new faces for Richey’s 11th season at the helm. He hopes Grand Ledge can continue to be competitive against some of the conference’s top programs.
HOLT
Last year: 2nd
Coach: Russ Olcheske (2nd season)
Top returning players: Abby Daman (sr. S), Olivia Martin (jr. S), Ryan Taber (sr. S), Madison David (jr. D), Kylie Kayser (sr. D), Amanda Perry (jr. D), Destinee Anderson (jr. D), Evan Taber (so. D), Sam Britting (sr. D)
Other contributors: Rylie Gilman (fr. S), Christina Abel (so. D)
Outlook: Olcheske gets eight players back from last year’s team that finished second in the conference. However, the addition of freshman Rylie Gilman, who will be the No. 1 singles for the Rams, could help Holt put up strong outings in the postseason. Olcheske said his girls “want to take their game to the next level as individuals and as a team.”
OKEMOS
Last year: 1st
Coach: Lisa Semerly (3rd season)
Top returning players: Monika Francsics (jr. S), Kylie Wilkinson (sr.), Anushka Murthy (so. S), Natasha Chinoy (jr. D)
Other contributors: Alisa Sabotic (so. S), Sema Colac (fr.)
Outlook: The Chiefs return a handful of strong players a year after going unbeaten in the regular season. Sabotic, a sophomore, will be the team’s No. 1 singles competitor, and Francsics and Wilkinson were state finalists last year. Semerly said her team hopes to finish atop the CAAC Blue and finish in the top 5 at states.
SEXTON
No information submitted.
CAAC RED
Coaches’ predictions: 1. Mason, 2. Haslett, 3. DeWitt, 4. St. Johns, 5. Owosso, 6. Waverly
Top players: Olivia Hanover (Mason), Hannah Vogelsang (Haslett), Sam Perkins (Mason), Gigi Padalec (Mason)
DEWITT
Coach: David Richter
Top returning players: Meri Kolemainen (so. S), Kara Johnson (so. S), Cecilia Hunter (sr. S)
Other contributors: Abby Seeger (jr. S), Kaylin Gray (jr. D), Alexa Cowgil (so. D)
Outlook: The Panthers have youth, but return key pieces in Kolemainen, Johnson and Hunter. DeWitt is favored to finish in the top 3 of the CAAC Red.
HASLETT
Last year: 1st
Coaches: Henry Brunnschweiler and Samantha Brunnschweiler (15th season)
Top returning players: Hannah Vogelsang (sr. S), Claire Cowan (sr. S), Anuva Suresh (so. S), Sophia Vogelsang (so. D), Anjani Raja (so. D)
Other contributors: Alley Trosko (jr. S), Allie Choi (sr. D), McKenna Bartley (so. D), Lauren Hill (so. D), Mia Salvador (sr. D), Shyan Goodrich (sr. D)
Outlook: Fresh off a league and Division 3 regional title, the Vikings will look to some newcomers to help replace seven starters from last year’s team. Hannah Vogelsang leads the pack for Haslett, and underclassmen Sophia Vogelsang, Suresh and Raja are expected to help step up to fill the voids.
MASON
Last year: 2nd
Coach: Jim D’Angelo (11th season)
Top returning players: Olivia Hanover (jr. S), Samantha Perkins (sr. S), Claire LaFleur (jr. S), Mallory Matthews (so. S)
Outlook: The Bulldogs lost nine players, and eight seniors, from last year’s team, but return one of the area’s best in Hanover, who was all-state last season. Mason has nine first-year varsity players, and D’Angelo said his team will have “a ton of work” to reach its goals.
OWOSSO
Last year: 6th
Coach: Carrie Rugenstein (8th season)
Top returning players: Madison Glardon (sr. S), Hannah Marcotte (sr. S), Brooke Edington (so. S), Lily Meyer (jr. S)
Other contributors: Daniele Gregoricka (so. D), Lindsay Woodworth (so. D)
Outlook: The Trojans bring back an all-league performer in Marcotte in hopes of improving from last year’s sixth-place league finish. Glardon is a three-year varsity performer. Rugenstein believes newcomers Gregoricka and Woodworth have the ability to help reach the team goal of a top-3 finish in the league.
ST. JOHNS
Last year: 3rd
Coach: Karl Hanover (7th season)
Top returning players: Megan George (sr. D), Brooke Mazzolini (sr. D), Jessica Hafner (sr. D), Amanda Yount (sr. S), Richelle Childers (sr. D)
Other contributors: Tory Hill (so.), McKenna Thelen (so.), Dani Brewbaker (so.)
Outlook: Hanover said the Redwings will need to thrive at the bottom flights in order to compete in a tough CAAC Red conference. St. Johns will return five all-league performers from last year’s third-place team.
WAVERLY
No information submitted.
CAAC WHITE
Coaches’ predictions: 1. Lansing Catholic, 2. Portland, 3. Williamston, 4. Fowlerville, 5. Ionia, 6. Eaton Rapids
Top players: Monica Davis (Lansing Catholic), Sydni Greenhoe (Portland), Michelle Dorshimer (Portland), Sydney Ellsworth (Williamston), Maia Guenther (WIlliamston)
EATON RAPIDS
Last year: 5th
Coach: Ryan Anderson (10th season)
Top returning players: Gabby Jones (sr. S), Marissa Cole (sr. S), Katelynn Jackson (sr. D), Amanda Hartwig (sr. D), Anita Haddad (jr. D), Melissa Copeland (jr. D)
Other contributors: Emily Newborn (so. S), Katrina Kesson (so. S), Kersten Henderson (jr. D), Maddy Campbell (jr. D)
Outlook: The Greyhounds return six multi-year varsity players including Jones, who is in her second season at No. 1 singles. Eaton Rapids will rely on a pair of sophomores in Newborn and Kesson in the singles flight as well.
FOWLERVILLE
Last year: 4th place
Coach: Jim Jonas (5th season)
Top returning players: Emily Tersigni (jr. S), Ashley Towe (sr. S), Julia Wykes (sr. D), Alyssa Bennett (jr. D), Becca Chaote (jr. D)
Other contributors: Lucy Gonzalez (so. S), Brii Haack (sr. D)
Outlook: The Gladiators graduated seven seniors from last season’s team, but return a strong crop of juniors. Fowlerville also gets back seniors singles competitor Towe, who missed last season with an injury. Jonas said his team’s goal is to finish in the top 4 of the league.
IONIA
No information submitted.
LANSING CATHOLIC
Coach: Jimmy Joyce (4th season)
Top returning players: Monica Davis (sr. S), Grace Mohr (sr. S), Jaclyn Walling (so. S)
Other contributors: Clare Werner, Emma Saxton, Meg Crowley, Alex Adamo, Lexi Bullock
Outlook: Davis and Mohr head a Lansing Catholic team that is predicted by coaches to finish near the top of the CAAC White conference. The Cougars are looking to get back to the league’s pinnacle after winning in 2014.
PORTLAND
Last year: 1st
Coach: Jim Niebling (19th season)
Top returning players: Sydni Greenhoe (sr. S), Michelle Dorshimer (jr. D), Brooke Butterfield (jr. D), Morgan Wittkopp (jr. D), Madison Brennen (sr. D), Goering Leah (sr. S), Hayley Feldpausch (sr. D), Hannah McNaughton (jr. D)
Outlook: Niebling and Portland return seven players who were regional champions in 2015. Greenhoe was a state finalist at No. 4 singles last year and, along with Wittkopp, who was a state semifinalist last season, is one of the Raiders’ captains. Niebling believes his team’s depth will allow them to potentially return to the league’s top spot.
WILLIAMSTON
Last year: 3rd
Coach: Nathaniel Schwarzbek (2nd season)
Top returning players: Sydney Ellsworth (jr. S), Maia Guenther (jr. D), Emily Pell (sr. D), Julianne Schrote (sr. S)
Other contributors: Maddie Ganton (so. D), Halle Wisbiski (jr. D), Morgan Nolan (jr. D), Christie Carson (jr. D)
Outlook: The Hornets lose seven seniors from last year’s team and two-time Division 3 state champion Sara Daavetilla, who is committed to the University of North Carolina. Schwarzbek said this season will be a “battle” due to the departures, but believes his team has the potential to compete.
OTHERS
LAKEWOOD
Coach: Martin Snoap (42nd season)
Top returning players: Ellie Haskin (sr. D), Issie Haskin (sr. D), Morgan Kenney (sr. D), Ashley Maag (sr. D), Allison Thelen (sr. D), Anna Zuver (sr. D)
Other contributors: Chloe Makley (fr. D), Megan Wakley (fr. D), Erica Potter (so. D), Kendra Stoepker (jr. S), Peyton Lowery (sr. S), Valory Altoft (jr. S), Mary Haskin (so. S)
Outlook: The Vikings return seven seniors, and nine total players, and expect to get a big boost from Lowery, who transferred from Portland. Ellie and Issie Haskin will look to lead Lakewood from the No. 1 doubles flight.
LANSING CHRISTIAN
Last year: 1st
Coach: Dick Winters (10th season)
Top returning players: Grace Haley (jr. S), Deborah Cordill (sr. S/D), Yido (Eden) Wen (sr. S/D), Claire Granger (sr. S/D), Debbie Sung (jr. S/D), Kaelin Royce (jr. S/D), Drew Schooley (jr. S/D), Jasmine Imes (jr. D), Maria Salow (so. D), Allison Woodland (jr. D)
Other contributors: Emily Partridge (jr. D), Laura Ganong (so. D), Ehmani Horton-Flowers (fr. D), Crystal James (fr. D), Melana Sharpe (so. D)
Outlook: The Pilgrims will return 10 players from last year’s team, but only seven have playing experience. Also, a handful of newcomers will look to help Lansing Christian compete once again in its conference. Hayley is the No. 1 singles competitor and is one of several returners who earned all-league honors last year.
LESLIE
Coach: Dean Baker (3rd season)
Top returning players: Danielle Hook (jr. S)
Other contributors: Jordan Hill (S), Raelyn Boylan (S), Kimberly Dricksna (S), Emily Smart (D), Lindsey Kincaid (D), Abi Tiffany (D), Jenny Davis (D)
Outlook: Hook leads a Blackhawks team that lost several seniors from last year’s team.
ITHACA
Coach: Becky Hartman (11th season)
Top returning players: Ali Brookens (sr. S)
Outlook: The Yellowjackets are an up-and-coming team, but Hartman believes Ithaca can have success at individual flights. She said this year will be a “learning season.”
Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.