The 2024 Moore League girls’ tennis season is underway, with each school feeling a sense of optimism and excitement for what will be another competitive season.
CAMS will look to build on their historic season last year, where they were crowned Division 5 CIF-SS champions for the first time in school history and won the 2023 Moore League title.
Reigning Moore League Coach of the Year Lorant Lassu believes her players’ time management skills will be crucial down the stretch this season.
“The biggest key to defending the league title this upcoming season will be commitment from the players to attend as many of the matches during the season as possible,” said Lassu. “This is a typical challenge for student-athletes because they have numerous responsibilities outside of the tennis court as well.”
Another strong season seems likely for CAMS as they will return many of their star players from last season. On the singles side, sophomore Mandy Oliveros will lead the charge after winning the Moore League singles title last season as a freshman. Sophomores Sara Rodriguez and Sara Nagae will fill in the remaining singles spots after they finished in 4th and 5th place respectively in the 2023 Moore League tournament.
On the doubles side, CAMS will welcome back senior Erica Lu, who finished 1st in Moore League doubles last season, and junior Sarah Myint.
“I am looking forward to the singles players’ continued dominant results, and the doubles players’ ability to tip the scale more toward our favor in case we have close-scoring matches against the other schools,” said Lassu.
Wilson will have a lot of new faces on their squad this year after a strong class of seniors graduated last spring.
“Our expectations for the season are to develop a really great group of incoming freshmen and new varsity players,” said head coach Nick Medina. “Our returning seniors hope to make deep runs in the Moore League tournament and CIF this year.”
In singles, the Bruins will be led by senior Vannesa Holden, a former title winner who placed 3rd in Moore League Singles last season. Medina touts Holden’s strong character and excellent singles play and looks forward to her doubles performance in the Moore League tournament.
On the doubles side, Wilson will return Amara Luke, Aoife Niles, and Sophia Miller-Underwood. Penelope Tellez is a new face to look out for as she is a new varsity player after a strong JV season last year. Juniors Haley Kaiser and Megan Ligenza will also join the varsity lineup.
Millikan has high hopes this season as they will return a strong set of players, but also recognize the competition they will be up against. .
“One of my expectations is getting first place in Moore league,” said first-year head coach Spencer Pozgay. “I think every year that’s the goal that every team in this extremely competitive league is aiming for. I want to compete year in and year out with the great schools in the Moore League.”
Pozgay also hopes his student-athletes continue to learn and grow as the season progresses and envisions a deep run in CIF this year.
For singles, the Rams will return Maya Cummings and Londyn Tyler, who Pozgay recognizes as hard workers both inside and outside of school practice.
On the doubles side, Millikan will rely on seniors Erica Torres, who finished 2nd in Moore League doubles last season, Natalia Duenas, and Elizabeth Torres.
“They’ve been rocks for this team for years and now that they’re seniors, they’re hungry to finish out their high school careers on a high note,” said Pozgay.
The Rams will also welcome one incoming freshman and two sophomores to varsity this year, all of which show promise and a bright future.
Long Beach Poly coach Mey Phy believes her squad has all the ingredients for a great team, but are still experimenting to find the best recipe that can achieve success this season.
The Jackrabbits will return seniors Maya Chow and Aurya Beatty, Chelsea Ramezani, and Kara Teter to lead their lineup.
“We are still trying out different positions so we don’t fully know where they are in the lineups,” said Phy.
Poly will also welcome freshmen Megan Lee, Naomi Lakkis, and Justina Phy as their top young talents.
“I expect my girls to be ready for what comes at them both on and off the court,” said Phy. “I am looking for the teamwork and work ethic that they have demonstrated all summer to come out on the courts.”
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