Presenting Daily Local News 2024 All-Area Girls Tennis Teams

Daily Local News 2024 All-Area Girls Tennis

First Team – Singles

MAHI PATEL, Downingtown East – A second team all-area singles selection last year, the sophomore finished second at Ches-Mont National singles tournament, and advanced to District 1 3A singles quarterfinals. Noted for her variety of shots and smart play.

SOPHIE ZHANG, Unionville – The senior captured the Ches-Mont League American Division singles tournament title, winning all four matches in straight sets. She advanced to second round of District 1 3A singles tourney, and is noted for her solid all-around play and court smarts.

ELLA MATULEWICZ, Bishop Shanahan – The Eagles senior advanced to quarterfinals of District 1 3A singles tourney, after placing third in the Ches-Mont League National Division singles tourney to earn a spot in the district tourney once again.

JAYDA LILA, West Chester Rustin – The Golden Knights senior finished second in Ches-Mont League American Division singles tourney. She is noted for her serve, forehand and resilient play.

ANAIS RITZ, Kennett – The Blue Demons junior finished third in Ches-Mont American singles tourney to advance to District 1 3A singles tournament, the first Blue Demon to do that in more than a decade. She is noted for her calm, levelheaded style of play.

ANNA XIAO, Great Valley – The Patriots sophomore was selected to first team All-Ches-Mont League American Division. Posted a 10-5 record at first singles for the Patriots, with four of those losses to players who qualified for the PIAA state and/or district tourney.

First Team – Doubles

MAHI PATEL-JOYA MENTRIKOSKI, Downingtown East – This sophomore duo placed fourth at the PIAA 3A doubles tourney, finished third at District 1 3A doubles tourney and won the Ches-Mont National doubles tourney championship. Patel teamed with Dhriti Munagala to win the Ches-Mont National doubles title last year.

ANNA XIAO-SAHASRA NERSU, Great Valley – This sophomore duo won the Ches-Mont League American Division doubles tourney title. After holding down the top two singles spots for the Patriots during the regular season, they paired up for the doubles tourney and got stronger as the matches progressed.

ADVIKA ANAND-RAY YANG, Downingtown West – Anand, a freshman, and Yang, a sophomore, finished second in the Ches-Mont League National Division doubles tourney, winning their first three matches in straight sets.

ISABELLE ROSS-MAYA SHANKAR, Downingtown West – Sophomore duo finished third in the Ches-Mont League National Division doubles tournament, then won a match in the opening round of the PIAA District 1 3A doubles tourney.

SOPHIE ZHANG-EMMA LI, Unionville – Zhang, a senior, and Li, a junior, finished second at the Ches-Mont League American Division doubles tournament, winning their first three matches in straight sets.

ANAIS RITZ-MADDIE SKRYPZAK, Kennett – Ritz, a junior, and Skrypzak, a senior, finished third in the Ches-Mont League American Division doubles tournament, wrapping up a berth in the PIAA District 1 3A doubles tourney.

SANNI VARANASI-ASHRITHA DUNABOYINA, Downingtown West – Varanasi, a senior, and Dunaboyina, a junior, won their opening round in the PIAA District 1 3A doubles tournament and were on the first team for All-Ches-Mont League (National Division) doubles.

SOFIA CALVITTI-KATIE HE, Conestoga – Calvitti, a senior, and He, a freshman, won the opening two rounds in straight sets in the District 1 3A doubles tournament, advancing to district quarterfinals. The Pioneer duo was selected to the first team All-Central League doubles team.

Second Team – Singles

SAHASRA NERSU, Great Valley

SOYMA SATHYANARAYANA, Conestoga

SARA WENG, Conestoga

ADVIKA ANAND, Downingtown West

CLAIRE CARROCCIO, Villa Maria Academy

Second Team – Doubles

EMMA SKINNER-MELANIE LIGHTHILL, West Chester Rustin

SARA SEOK-EMMA LI, Unionville

CHARLIE ROBERTS-JASMINE LIU, Unionville

DHAATHRI GANDHAM-SUKEERTI MANTHA, Great Valley

JAYDA LILA-OLIVIA FOGARTY, West Chester Rustin

KAITLYN PARSON-DALIA TSANG, Conestoga

ANNIKA SWANSON-ELLIE RAYOR, Villa Maria Academy

Coach of the Year

Downingtown East’s first-year head coach Lisa Sheldon, the Daily Local News 2024 Girls Tennis Coach of the Year, led the Cougars to an undefeated season in the Ches-Mont League and a No. 3 seed in the District 1 3A team tournament. The Cougars also had an entry in both the PIAA 3A singles semifinals and doubles semifinals.

Sheldon said, “This was an amazing season in many ways. When assistant coach Steph Vo and I were hired to coach the team we embraced an already talented and successful program. We cultivated a culture of learning — about the sport, about each other as teammates, and highlighted the importance of self-awareness with individual growth. All along the ladder we saw a desire to improve, an open willingness to listen, and the caring effort to keep evolving. When you have this energy and commitment from players — with support from the DASD athletic department and boosters — the excitement and joy that’s part of the process, along with the accomplishments, become elements of the team story.

“I’m a strong believer in how sports in general teach people life lessons. And there’s something special about working with high school student-athletes. I love seeing them surprise themselves with their skills, celebrate their victories, learn through adversity, and watch their relationships grow.

“As a coach watching sometimes 15 courts per match I can’t remember the specifics of every game/set that each athlete and doubles team plays. But a highlight for me as a coach is watching a player strategically assess, sometimes with Coach Steph’s and my help, but many times after their own reflection, and then adjust their game on court. I am so proud of the players who gave it their all and who cared. With every fist pump, racquet tap, smile I could see the joy — and sometimes frustration — that this sport invites. But most of all, I loved watching the players — during matches, practices, the pre-match warm-ups, and the post-match de-briefs, because these interactions nurtured what became a solid, fun and satisfying season for everyone involved in the Downingtown East girls tennis program.”