Serving and volleying is vital in the game of tennis, but in the team form at the high school level it is all about depth.
The season is underway and several of the area teams bring back the player in the No. 1 slot, which is always a good thing.
No question.
However, it’s more important to have experience in the fourth through sixth spot in order to come out on top in matches.
Several area teams bring back talent from last year’s lineup to give them a head start on the season.
It starts with the Lamoreaux twins – Anya and Madeline – who won the state doubles title as freshmen and sophomores but didn’t compete in the postseason last year.
Here is a look at players listed as underclassmen on last season’s rosters.
Boys
Desert Ridge
Coach: Dustin Wagner
Last year’s record: 5-8, 0-6 DI, Section V
Returning players: Cameron Alexander, Camden Peterson, Kevin Wray, Connor Smith, Ryan Wiser
Dobson
Coach: Kaitlyn Morris
Last year’s record: 6-8, 2-3 DI, Section VIII
Returning players: Ethan Sutherland, AJ Fuentes, Dan Azimi
Mesa
Coach: Glenn Meier
Last year’s record: 8-5, 2-5 in DI, Section VI
Returning player: Steston Thomson
Mountain View
Coach: Kim Roberts
Last year’s record: 4-10, 4-2 DI, Section V
Returning players: Cody Daniels, Jace Robison, Cole Blomquist
Red Mountain
Last year’s record: 9-5, 5-1 in DI, Section V
Returning players: Tyler Davis, Chris Lambert, Bandon Huss, Justin Nelson, Nikolai Radakovich
Skyline
Coach: Erik Lutz
Last year’s record: 6-8, 2-4 in DI, Section V
Returning players: Landon Miller, Josh Daniels, Sam Speelmon, Sergio Gonzalez-Porras
Westwood
Coach: Ryan Cooney
Last year’s record: 6-8, 1-6 in DI, Section VI
Returning players: Ethan Farar, Drake Turley, Joseph Ritchie, Dolev Aricha-Levi
Girls
Desert Ridge
Coach: Thomas Castrichini
Last year’s record: 9-5, 1-5 DI, Section V
Returning players: Halle Swinney, Taylor Nikolaus, Kristen Abel, Demi Doane, Shannon Murphy, Brianna Wettig
Dobson
Coach: Judy Whitney
Last year’s record: 7-7, 3-3, DI, Section III
Returning players: Tram Ngo, Stephanie Liu, Skyllar Rose
Mesa
Coach: Darris Schomaker
Last year’s record: 8-5, 2-5 DI, Section VI
Returning players: Abby Anderson, Ally Stahle, Brandi Long, Ellie Mason, Angelica Rodriguez
Mountain View
Coach: Lori Flake
Last year’s record: 13-1, 6-0 DI, Section V
Returning players: Anya Lamoreaux, Madeline Lamoreaux, Tatum Hiatt, Emma Wheeler
Red Mountain
Last year’s record: 6-8, 4-2 DI, Section V
Returning players: Catherine McCauley, Arianna Comes, Kaitlin Willamsen
Skyline
Coach: Sara Nixon
Last year’s record: 3-11, DI, Section V
Returning players: N/A
Westwood
Coach: Alexander Stewart
Last year’s record: 7-7, 1-6 DI, Section VI
Returning players: Annie Hoffman, Anna Reimers, Hannah Mason
– Jason P. Skoda is a senior writer for MyNewsMesa.com. Send Mesa-based story ideas to jskoda@mynewsmesa.com.
