CLEVELAND, Ohio – The OHSAA girls tennis season began on Friday, and teams across cleveland.com’s seven-county coverage area in Northeast Ohio will be competing for rivalry wins, conference championships, and ultimately a shot at a state title.

Here are the teams expected to be among the best in Northeast Ohio this season:

1. Hathaway Brown

Coach: Greg Aten

Last Season: 23-1

About the Blazers: One of the top programs in NE Ohio, the Blazers have reached the Division II final four of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association state tournament each of the last nine seasons and won seven state championships. Last season, the Blazers won the NE Ohio District title and finished third in the state. Coach Aten returns five varsity players, including a pair of singles district qualifiers – sophomore Anna Mills (29-4) and junior Madeline Everest (28-5). They are joined by sophomore Ava Kamensky (20-1), junior Elizabeth Chen (26-2), and senior Sarah Cimoroni (28-5). With several Varsity B players from last season rounding out the lineup, the Blazers will once again be strong candidates to make a deep tournament run.

2. Highland

Coach: Lisa Reynolds

Last Season: 15-2, Suburban League-American Champions

About the Hornets: Winners of eight straight conference titles, the Hornets are once again the team to beat in the Suburban League. Coach Reynolds returns six varsity players from last season, including a trio of seniors – state qualifier Ally Haynes at No. 1 singles (26-10), district qualifier Kenzie Pawlak (30-3) at No. 1 doubles, and Ella Tople (25-3) at No. 2 doubles. Junior Claire Schlak (23-7, No. 2 singles) and sophomore Lily Hantz (26-4, No. 3) round out the Hornets’ excellent depth and experience.

3. Kenston

Coach: Torrey McNeal

Last Season: 14-1, Western Reserve Conference Champions

About the Bombers: Fresh off their fourth consecutive WRC title, the Bombers will make the jump to Division I this fall (from D-II). The favorites to repeat in the conference, they return three top varsity players, including three-time conference Player of the Year and two-time state qualifier Brooke McNeal (17-2, No. 1 singles). She leads a lineup that will include senior Alex Ungaro (13-2, doubles district qualifier) and junior Anna Spivak (14-1, No. 3 singles).

4. Hawken

Coach: Lori Shulman

Last Season: 10-2, Chagrin Valley Conference Champions (Chagrin Division)

About the Hawks: A season after falling to Hathaway Brown in the Division II district semi-final, coach Shulman returns her top three players and will be among the favorites to repeat as conference champions. Leading the Hawks at No. 1 singles is junior Dani Forte, a two-time state qualifier. She finished last season 14-4 and won the CVC title to claim first-team honors. Behind her is sophomore Valeria Kislyansky (7-4, No. 2 singles), a sectional champion and state doubles qualifier, and senior Bella Hsieh (7-2 at No. 3 singles), who qualified for districts in doubles and paired with Forte in ’22 to finish fourth at state.

5. Magnificat

Coach: Chris Johnson

Last Season: 12-11

About the Blue Streaks: Returning three state qualifiers from a season ago, the Blue Streaks will look to build off last season’s rigorous schedule (five losses by a score of 3-2). Seniors Anna Mancino (23-11, state singles qualifier) and Corinne Daniels (20-16, state doubles) lead the charge, with junior Molly Williams (27-8, state doubles) providing a strong third option.

6. Gilmour Academy

Coach: Claudia Althans

Last Season: 13-2

About the Lancers: Coach Althans returns six varsity players and welcomes a pair of highly touted freshman into the fold. Sophomore Abigail Lynch (18-4, No. 1 singles) returns as a state singles qualifier. She’s joined by a trio of seniors – Natalie Andelova (8-3, No. 2 singles), Quinn Doyle (9-3, No. 2 doubles) and Katherine Frawley (8-4, No. 1/No. 2 doubles) – and junior Gianna Francisco (12-2, No. 3 singles). Freshmen Caroline Koch (4-star recruit) and Grier Peckham (3-star) will provide the Lancers with one of the deepest lineups in the area.

7. Hudson

Coach: Tim Morgan

Last Season: 16-4, Suburban League-National Champions

About the Explorers: Coach Morgan has led the Explorers to four consecutive conference titles. They will have a new look in 2024 but are still expected to be at the top of the standings. Graduating a strong senior class (including their state doubles team), the Explorers return three from last season and bring in talented freshman, Emma Liu (3-star recruit). Senior Mallory Hannon will lead the way – she recorded 26 wins, claimed the conference title at No. 2 singles, and was a district qualifier. Junior Bransyn Mathia was strong at No. 3 singles, and senior Aanya Patel returns as a conference champion at No. 2 doubles.

8. Avon

Coach: Eric Korey

Last Season: 15-1, Southwestern Conference Champions

About the Eagles: Coming off a historic season that included a fifth straight SWC title and advancing to the Elite 8 (first time in school history) in DI, the Eagles will experience a changing of the guard. Coach Korey’s squad graduated nine seniors, including first-team All-Ohio singles player Natalie Smitek (Xavier) and the school’s all-time wins leader in Denver Johnson (Western Illinois). The Eagles return only two letter winners – sophomore Ashley DeHaven (15-7, No. 3 Singles) and senior Maddie Huen (16-3, No. 2 Doubles), but have a lot of talented players ready to contribute.

9. Avon Lake

Coach: Tariq Ismail

Last Season: 13-3

About the Shoregals: Following a runner-up finish to rival Avon in the Southwestern Conference last season, the Shoregals return their top three players – all seniors – from last season. Amber Korey was second-team All-SWC at No. 1 singles, and paired with sister Autumn (No. 3 singles, First Team All-SWC) to qualify for the state tournament in doubles. Elizabeth Meiners (No. 2 singles, second-team All-SWC) was a district qualifier and undefeated in the regular season at No. 2.

10. Archbishop Hoban

Coach: Terry Slay

Last Season: 10-2

About the Knights: Coach Slay hopes to build off last season’s strong results which included a tough D-II district quarterfinal loss to Hawken (3-2). The Knights bring back three varsity players, including their top two – three-time state singles qualifier & Division I recruit Haley Slay (20-3) at No. 1, and junior Karlie Nicolai at No. 2 (10-7, district qualifier).

11. Westlake

Coach: Zoltan Tamasy

Last Season: 14-5, Great Lakes Conference Champions

About the Demons: Winners of three straight conference titles, the Demons will have a new look after graduating five accomplished seniors, including last season’s D-I state singles runner-up and cleveland.com Player of the Year, Amara Brahmbhatt (Michigan State). Coach Tamasy returns the doubles team of Paige Hradek/Margot Hofelich (GLC first team honors at No. 2 doubles) and Raine DeAngelis.

12. Aurora

Coach: Vincent Cannata

Last Season: 15-5

About the Greenmen: Coach Cannata brings back five varsity players from last season’s runner-up finish in the Suburban League-American Conference (6-1). At No. 1, junior Kamy Milano returns as a state doubles qualifier – she was undefeated at No. 2 singles and claimed first team all-conference honors. Joining her is senior Zelie Cerda-Malicdem (all-conference at No. 3 singles) and a trio of juniors – Sophie Cifani (all-conference at No. 1 doubles), and Ashley Kohl & Addison Martin (No. 2 doubles).

13. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy

Coach: David Ramey

Last Season: 16-4

About the Royals: Last season, the Royals ranked as high as 7th in the OTCA D-II state rankings. Coach Ramey returns five from that squad, including three-time singles district qualifier Amy Grace Beebe (21-7, No. 1). The Royals also return senior Kyla Moore (No. 2 singles/No. 1 doubles), who paired with sophomore Grace Saffles to qualify for districts, along with the doubles team of senior Skylar Wood/junior Joy Saffles.

14. Solon

Coach: Fredrik Nyborg

Last Season: 11-9

About the Comets: Following a runner-up finish in the Suburban League-National Conference (7-1), the Comets return three players from last season – all seniors. Among them is the No. 1 doubles team of Olivia Liu/Isabella Liu (12-5) – together they earned First team all-conference honors and qualified for districts. Singles player Victoria Dai will add to a lineup that will feature a lot of youth and upcoming talent.

15. Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin

Coach: Derek Kohanski

Last Season: 12-7

About the Lions: Coach Kohanski graduated five seniors but returns his top two from last season – both three-year varsity players. Senior Elena Fleming – a two-time state singles qualifier and three-time district qualifier – will once again be at No. 1 singles. She finished last season 27-6, won both the Crown Conference title (third time) and the Solon sectional championship, and qualified for state in Division I. Senior Lucy Paulin (No. 2) also returns as a singles district qualifier.

Others to watch: Shaker Heights, Rocky River, Orange, Bay, Strongsville