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The 2017 Wyoming Valley Conference high school girls tennis season is underway, and it looks to be a highly competitive race to the top.The Hazleton Area Cougars look to be the team to beat, as they are coming off of winning their second straight WVC title in singles and doubles in District 2 Class 3A.Last season under the guidance of first-year coach Katie Pavlick, arriving in Hazleton after a solid run coaching at MMI Prep, the Cougars dominated throughout the year on their way to a stalwart 12-1 campaign. This year&#8217;s squad seems as lethal as ever, as they return all their starters, highlighted by the return of senior standout Stephanie Mazurek and junior Lily Nowak.The dynamic duo joined forces to capture the District 2 doubles title, and for the first time in boys or girls program history, represented the school in state playoffs.&#8220;With our record from last year and everyone returning, we all have high expectations to repeat as WVC champions for the third straight season, something our program has never done before,&#8221; Pavlick said. &#8220;We want to keep raising the bar in my second season as head coach. We are coming in very strong, especially with the key addition of talented freshman Alyssa Mazurek, Stephanie&#8217;s little sister.&#8221;Another talented squad to look out for this season is Holy Redeemer. Long-time head coach Joe Suchocki led his team to an impressive 12-1 record last season, making it all the way to the district finals before losing to Scranton Prep in a close contest. The Royals return most of their dominant team from a year ago, including four key senior leaders in Emily Evans, Lauren LaMarca, Lindsey Hoover and Erica Serafin.&#8220;Wyoming Seminary is always a tough opponent and Hazleton won the league last year and have all their singles starters returning, so they&#8217;ll be very tough again,&#8221; Suchocki said. &#8220;You never know from year to year with graduating and incoming players. Hopefully we make the playoffs and make a good run.&#8221;Perennial title contender Wyoming Seminary looks to be a fierce competitor once again, as head coach Allison Joanlanne returns the bulk of her 10-3 squad from a year ago that made it to the district semifinals for the second straight season.Wyoming Area is another team to keep on the radar, as Tiffany Callaio&#8217;s group is a frequent playoff participant, including last season when the Warriors made it to districts sporting a 9-4 record before being upended by Western Wayne in the first round.Other talented schools to keep an eye on in the WVC are Trinell Bull&#8217;s Berwick Bulldogs, who, despite losing five of their key starters from last year&#8217;s 11-6 team, are competitive year-in and year-out. They even handed Hazleton Area its only loss last season.Pittston Area looks to be strong once again, as new coach John Connors takes over a talented team that went 8-5 last year and has key leadership from upperclassmen captains, Charity McLeod, Madison Stanton, Abby Connors, and Kaitlyn Connors.Michael Portonova&#8217;s MMI Prep squad went 8-7 a year ago and made the playoffs, and bring backs key contributors Katherine Pinto and Jackie Braunstein.<ins>AT A GLANCE</ins><ins>WVC Class 2A </ins><ins>Berwick</ins><ins>Coach: Trinell Bull (33rd season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 11-6</ins><ins>Home Courts: Berwick High School Tennis Court</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Isabella Arndt (Sr. and only returning singles player), Sydney Lloyd (Soph., doubles player)</ins><ins>Key Losses: Gabi Popko, Lily Force-Moore, Alexis Zalutko, Jacee Carrathers, Airlia Martz (All were Sr. starters)</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;Hazleton is extremely deep and Wyoming Seminary is perennially strong. Holy Redeemer and Wyoming Area also have had very strong teams. This year will be a rebuilding year for our tennis program. We are a very young team (all freshmen and sophomores except for two seniors). Although we may lack competitive play experience, they are full of enthusiasm and eagerly looking forward to the season! As the season progresses, we hope to be very competitive with the teams in our league.&#8221;</ins><ins>Dallas</ins><ins>Coach: Joe Pugliese (7th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 6-7</ins><ins>Home Courts: Dallas High School</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Hannah Bonk, Mikayla Reynolds, Hannah Gildea</ins><ins>Key Losses: Allie Stallard, Emily Heltzel, Greta Ketchner, Julia Evans</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;I have a nice group of underclassman that should complement the returning senior starters very well. There will be good competition for the open starting positions. Since many of them are about even. I expect to play many underclassman in and out of the line up to get them some experience. We hope to get back to the playoffs.&#8221;</ins><ins>GAR</ins><ins>Coach: Raphael Cooper (5th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 2-11</ins><ins>Home Courts: Kirby Park</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Dominique Cropp, Jazmin Calva, Samantha Rodriguez, Michelle Tapia, Valerie Morales, Magaly Martinez, Jennifer Aguilar, Jasmine Andrade, Yasmin Guzman</ins><ins>Key Losses: Diamond Cruz</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;I am very proud of this team that is dedicated to improving their game and most importantly excelling in their academics. This is a team that I am very proud of on and off the court. Now with 18 players on our team, GAR Girls&#8217; Tennis is stronger than ever. With great support from our Principals and Athletics it will be a pleasure to have our girls&#8217; play some high school tennis this August and September.&#8221;</ins><ins>Holy Redeemer</ins><ins>Coach: Joe Suchocki (6th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 12-1 (lost to Scranton Prep 3-1 in district finals)</ins><ins>Home Courts: Kirby Park</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Emily Evans, Lauren LaMarca, Lindsey Hoover, Erica Serafin (all seniors), Cameron Cassetori, Cassie Benderavich, Sonal Garg (Soph.), Tia Amerise (newcomer Fresh.)</ins><ins>Key Losses: Singles starters- Charlotte Maria and Alex Kester, Doubles specialist- Julia Randazzo</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;Wyoming Seminary is always a tough opponent. Hazleton won the league last year and have all singles starters returning so they will be very tough again. Wyoming Area and Dallas are always have competitive teams and Pittston had a very good season last year. You never know from year to year with graduating and incoming players. Hopefully we make the playoffs and make a good run.&#8221;</ins><ins>MMI Prep</ins><ins>Coach: Michael Portonova (2nd season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 8-7 (lost in 1st round of district playoffs)</ins><ins>Home Courts: MMI Prep</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Katherine Pinto (Soph.), Jackie Braunstein (Sr.)</ins><ins>Key Losses: Libby Pinto, Jessica Smith</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;We are looking to rebuild the program with lots of young and new players so we can be solid for the next four years.&#8221;</ins><ins>Tunkhannock</ins><ins>Coach: Justin Muthler (1st season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 5-8</ins><ins>Home Courts: Tunkhannock Area High School Tennis Courts</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Autumn Grey, Leah Rome, Hannah Chesner (All seniors)</ins><ins>Key Losses: None.</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;All of the teams we play will be challenging. I hope we can successfully transition into me becoming the head coach. Our team goals are to finish the season about .500 and make a push for a playoff spot.&#8221;</ins><ins>Wyoming Area</ins><ins>Coach: Tiffany Callaio (5th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 9-4 (lost to Western Wayne in 1st round of district playoffs)</ins><ins>Home Courts: Martin Mattei Middle School in Pittston Area</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Brianna Pizzano, Allison Lampman, Emily Cheskiewicz</ins><ins>Key Losses: Lea Getz, Nina Minnelli</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;I would love to have another winning season and have a chance to get back to playoffs.&#8221;</ins><ins>Wyoming Seminary</ins><ins>Coach: Allison Joanlanne (6th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 10-3 (lost in district playoffs semi-finals)</ins><ins>Home Courts: Lull Tennis Center</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Nicole Joanlanne, Abbey Capin, Emily Urbanski, Meghna Melkote, Nicole Aomachi, Becca Hammerman</ins><ins>Key Losses: Emily Laurore, Sharon Zhou</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;We would like to continue having a winning season again and make it to playoffs.&#8221;</ins><ins>Hanover Area</ins><ins>Coach: Terry Schnee (30th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 0-13</ins><ins>Home Courts: Hanover Area High School</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Deanna Wadzin (Jr., #2 singles player), Kaitlyn Downey (Fresh., #1 singles player)</ins><ins>Key Losses: Victoria Hoffman (#1 player in singles and doubles)</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;We lost our number one player Victoria Hoffman from last year, she represented us in districts in doubles and we will miss the most her combination of hitting the ball both hard with power and control. We don&#8217;t have a player who can do both yet but they are learning. We are hoping we can fill in numbers for our roster and gain experience. With seven high school girls and six junior high girls practicing we hope to build the Hanover tennis program. We have a lot of young ladies who will get a chance to move up from exhibition matches to regular matches and gain lots of on court experience. Plus we might have a nice doubles combination with Wadzin and Downey, as Wadzin is coming back nicely from breaking her wrist early last year and has lots of athleticism and Downey has a really good skill set and will gain power as she gains confidence and experience this year.&#8221;</ins><ins>Coughlin</ins><ins>Coach: Teresa Popilarski (14th and final season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 5-8</ins><ins>Home Courts: Plains Township Municipal Park on Clark Lane</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Kira Meager (Sr.), Sydney Daley (Jr.), Marilyn Ogof (Soph.), Hanna Moon (Soph.), Rachel Bath (Soph.), Chabee Patel (Soph.), Gianna Valenti (Soph.), Key Newcomers- Hailey Rivera, Bryan Soriano, Carmen Biniek</ins><ins>Key Losses: (lost six starters) Diana Rodriguez, Katie Berlew, Diana Stavinski, Carly Lewis, Julia Schneider, Rachel Lacomy</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;This year will be a challenge having lost 6 starters. My players have been working very hard. Some have taken lessons during the off season and will be coming back much stronger. Our goal is to just go out and play our best and fight for every point. If we can do that, win or lose, it will be a successful season.&#8221;</ins><ins>WVC Class 3A </ins><ins>Hazleton Area</ins><ins>Coach: Katie Pavlick (2nd season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 12-1 (won WVC for 2nd year in a row)</ins><ins>Home Courts: Hazleton Area High School Tennis Courts</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: All Starters Returning- Stephanie Mazurek (Sr.), Sophia Losen (Sr.), Adrianna Bohman (Sr.), Lily Nowak (Jr.), Kim Delregno (Jr.), Sofia Sebo (Jr.), Key Newcomer- Alyssa Mazurek (Fresh.)</ins><ins>Key Losses: None.</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;With our record from last year and everyone returning we all have high expectations to repeat as Wyoming Valley Conference champions for the third straight season, something our program has never done before. They have all worked hard in conditioning practices and look forward to having another great season and keep raising the bar in my second season as head coach. Berwick was are only loss last year and we open our season against them this year, so they are always tough. Plus Holy Redeemer was very competitive against us in our match last season. All the teams in our conference will be a tough challenge this year. We feel good though, as we are coming in very strong, especially with the key addition of talented freshman Alyssa Mazurek, Stephanie Mazurek&#8217;s little sister.&#8221;</ins><ins>Wyoming Valley West</ins><ins>Coach: Jim Zimmerman (22nd season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 4-9</ins><ins>Home Courts: Hamilton Park in Kingston</ins><ins>Key Returning Players: Madisen Jastremski (Sr.), Macy Raskiewicz (Jr.), Morgan Shedletsky (Soph.), Anabelle Gifoli (Soph.), Key Newcomer- Claire Capin (Fresh.)</ins><ins>Key Losses: Bryden Peters (#1 player), Allison Dotter, Mariah Carey</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;Hope to be competitive and have fun playing tennis. We have four or five girls with experience and some new young players who we will teach them to play the game the right way.&#8221;</ins><ins>Crestwood</ins><ins>Coach: Scott Lenio (20th season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 1-12</ins><ins>Home Courts: Wright Township Park</ins><ins>Key Players Returning: Abigail Bielecki, Rachel McFarland, Chloe Lacoste, Breena Kravchick, Natalie Klimek, Key Newcomers- Abby Glynn, Korina Cheng, Bethany Newell, Cassie Menn, Hannah Sobolweski, Madison Weiss, Makayla Ball, Julia Dreyfus</ins><ins>Key Losses: Kate Garcia, Kara Grenzberg, Allison Knorek</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;The team lost three starters from last year. We have two starters in singles that have moved up from doubles. The doubles teams consist of players who have not played in league matches. We hope to improve as the year goes along and try to reach .500.&#8221;</ins><ins>Pittston Area</ins><ins>Coach: John Connors (1st season)</ins><ins>2016 Record: 8-5</ins><ins>Home Courts: Martin Mattei Middle School, in Pittston</ins><ins>Key Players Returning: Charity McLeod (captain), Madison Stanton (co-captain), Kerry Shamnoski (all seniors), Abby Connors (co-captain), Kaitlyn Connors (captain), Emily Kraser, Julia Zambetti (all juniors)</ins><ins>Key Losses: (lost 11 seniors from last year) Mackenzie Connors (captain), Taryn Whitman (co-captain), Breanna Yashkus (all three were key starters)</ins><ins>Coach&#8217;s Outlook: &#8220;Our goal for the season is to return to team districts and have a strong showing in singles and doubles districts.&#8221;</ins><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hazleton Area senior Stephanie Mazurek is helping lead a veteran Cougars squad this season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_d2_tennis2_faaCMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hazleton Area senior Stephanie Mazurek is helping lead a veteran Cougars squad this season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Ross TuretskyFor Times Leader</bylineMeta></div>

WVC girls tennis season features plenty of competition