Everything you need to know about the 2025 Nebraska girls tennis season

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Class A

Bellevue East

Coach: Krista Tew

Returning state entrants: Kennedy Alvine, sr.; Mya Weber, sr.; Layne Parker jr.; Mariah Blaha, jr.

Others to watch: Teagan Hadley, Mariah Tracy, fr.

Outlook: The Chieftains return four state players and look to build on that experience. Blaha played 1 singles last season while Parker and Alvine were 1 doubles.

Bellevue West

Coach: Stattin Yates

Returning state entrants: Olivia Berger, sr.; Jillian Sasek, sr.; Angela Berger; Addison Liberty

Others to watch: Karsyn Hansen; Mia Toelle; Tory Adams; Gabi Suarez; Prodigy Doumassi

Outlook: The Thunderbirds return starters at 1 singles (Olivia Berger), 1 doubles (Angela Berger) and 2 doubles (Sasek and Liberty) from a team that scored 10 points at state. Yates, who previously was at Omaha Northwest, takes over as coach for Steve Lemon.

Columbus

Coach: Kim Leibhart

Returning state entrants: Alyn Estrada-Morales, sr.; Carley Kapels, jr.

Others to watch: Maria Oliva-Rumbaut.

Outlook: The Discoverers return Estrada-Morales, who played 1 singles a year, and Kapels played 1 doubles.

Elkhorn South

Coach: Steve Bischof

Returning state entrants: Aly Sherman, sr.; Ratna Kang, jr.; Shrimayi Gillella, jr.

Others to watch: Cassie Smith, sr.; Aubrey Sumner, sr.; Alexis Wagner, so.

Outlook: The Storm bring three starters back from a team that won the Metro tournament and was state runner-up. Kang was runner-up at 1 singles, Sherman won 2 singles the past two years and Gillella was third at 2 doubles.

Fremont

Coach: Justin Bigsby

Returning state entrants: Nora Pentel, sr.; Kate Denker, sr.; Byleigh Hofer, sr.; Kiersten Dockerty, sr.; Madi Schmidt, sr.

Others to watch: Katie Proskovec, sr.; Megan Millard, sr.

Outlook: The Tigers placed 11th at state last year and have a chance to improve on that as they return an experienced squad.

Kearney

Coach: Troy Saulsbury

Returning state entrants: Emma Heacock, sr.; Ella Bokenkamp, sr.; Sophia Heacock, so.; Bailey Henning, so.

Others to watch: Sarah Dahlke, sr.; Lydia Dart, sr.; Sophia King, sr.; Cecilia Shaffer, jr.; Sadie Luke, jr.; Addy Sutton, so.; Leah Flood, fr.; Josslyn Flood, fr.

Outlook: Kearney placed ninth at state last May and it returns good experience. Emma Heacock placed fifth at 1 singles, while Sophia Heacock played 1 doubles and Henning and Bokenkamp were at 2 doubles. Saulsbury said newcomers will help the Bearcats be competitive in a lot of matches.

Lincoln East

Coach: Chris Stock

Returning state entrants: Belinda Rademacher, sr.; Stacia Jacobsen, sr.; Stella Stempson, jr.; Briana Rademacher, so.

Others to watch: Belinda Qiao, fr.

Outlook: No Class A team has repeated as state champ since Omaha Marian won four straight from 2008 to 2011. East will be a favorite to do that this season. The Spartans return 1 doubles champion Belinda Rademacher and younger sister Briana, the 1 singles champ. Jacobsen won a title at 2 doubles. "I'm very encouraged by this year's group of athletes. They are a tough-minded team that sticks to the process of getting a little better each day," Stock said.

Lincoln High

Coach: David Dyson

Returning state entrants: Ellie Hill, sr.; Eileen Stoebner, sr.; Rowan Wick, sr.

Others to watch: Addy Lemon, jr.

Outlook: Dyson looks for the Links to be competitive as senior leaders and added depth. Lemon played at state last year for Bellevue West before transferring.

Lincoln North Star

Coach: Jeremy Jank

Returning state entrants: Elena Simpson; Hannah Simpson

Others to watch: Ruby Swanson; Ivanna Ramos Berrios; MaKenna Watkins; Kate Odell; Abby Tumbleson; Maya Rezabek

Outlook: The Gators return their two singles players from state as Hannah Simpson played 1 singles and Elena was at 2 singles. Jank will have a mix of players to fill the doubles spots after North Star placed sixth at state last year.

Lincoln Northeast

Coach: Michael Mason-D'Croz

Returning state entrants: Addison Hoage, sr.; Mackenzie Neiswanger, sr.; Evelyn Kusek, sr.

Others to watch: Addison McEniry, jr.; Audrey Neuhaus, jr.; Ruby Dean, jr.; Maddie Obrecht, jr.

Outlook: The Rockets return their 1 doubles team in Hoage and Neiswanger and Kusek played 2 singles. But they also will be breaking in new players in key roles.

Lincoln Southeast

Coach: Chris Salem

Returning state entrants: Carolyn Skold, sr.; Sophie Flynn, sr.; Clio Baird, jr.; Berkley Byler, jr.; Annika Srivastav, jr.

Others to watch: Emery Williams, so.; Ella Strasburger, so.; Ruthie Stokes, fr.

Outlook: The Knights placed 10th at state a year ago, but Southeast could back in the mix this spring with plenty of returners. Also back is Corinne Barber, who won 2 singles in 2022 and was the top seed at state in 1 singles in 2023 before being slowed by injuries last season. Skold and Baird placed seventh at state at 1 doubles. Southeast should have good depth.

Lincoln Southwest

Coach: Dennis Hershberger

Returning state entrants: Penelope Brown, sr.; Meenakshi Variyam, Sr.; Ellie Hain, sr.; Sophie Johnson, sr.; Kate Felt, so.

Others to watch: Bella Xu, jr.; Alexis Luu, so.; Ava Ogden, so.; Mena Warner, so.; Mrudhulaa Vallieppan, so.

Outlook: The Silver Hawks finished third at state last season and return nearly its entire lineup. At state last year, Brown was seventh at 1 singles, Variyam was fourth in 1 doubles, Felt was fifth in 2 singles and Hain and Johnson were fourth at 2 doubles.

Millard North

Coach: Scott Orlando

Returning state entrants: Lucy Cho, sr.; Aproova Kasireddy, sr.; Jessica Lu, sr.; Puji Mudhelli, sr.; Michaela Altman, sr.; Meruni Are, jr.

Outlook: The Mustangs return an experienced lineup after finishing fourth as a team at state. Altman was third at 2 singles, Cho and Kasireddy placed fourth at 1 doubles Are was sixth at 1 singles and Lu and Mudhelli finished seventh at 2 doubles

Millard South

Coach: Jason Rodenberger

Returning state entrants: Sienna Bonner, sr.; Kaylie Renner, sr.; Makayla Ripley, sr.

Others to watch: Abby Eichhorst, sr.; Ariah Herman, sr.; Ella Hutfless, sr.; Stella Lahm, sr.; Skylar Cameron, jr.; Ava Erb, so.

Outlook: The Patriots bring back plenty of experience as seniors will lead the team. Ripley played 1 doubles at state, Bonner and Renner played 2 doubles, but South will need to fill spots at its singles spots.

Millard West

Coach: Tom Koziol

Returning state entrants: Elizabeth Roth, sr.

Others to watch: Piper McCormick, so.

Outlook: The Wildcats will rebuild this season after graduating nine players last spring. Roth played 1 singles a year ago and McCormick is back after missing last season with an injury. Koziol expects West's singles to be stronger than its doubles to start the season.

North Platte

Coach: John Lehmer

Returning state entrants: Callie McClain, Colbie Baade, Caylee O'Brien

Others to watch: Jaycee Lehr, sr.; Kacey Munson, sr.; Sienna Mitchell, sr.; Allie Jones, so.

Outlook: All of the Bulldogs' returning starters played doubles at state as McClain was at 1 doubles and Baade and O'Brien teamed at 2 doubles. And with newcomers filling roles, Lehmer expects North Platte to have a very competitive team.

Omaha Bryan

Coach: Ricardo Hernandez

Returning state entrants: None

Outlook: The Bears played a JV schedule last season when they had only one player with experience. Numbers are up this year as Bryan has enough players for two teams. Hernandez said the team is looking to compete well this spring.

Omaha North

Coach: Bryson Wiser

Returning state entrants: Elli Yamamoto, sr.; Kyra Norris, sr.

Others to watch: Anna Bartsch, so.; Moo Law Soe, so.

Outlook: The Vikings will have spots to fill as their two returners played 2 doubles a year ago.

Omaha Westside

Coach: Betsy Kingston

Returning state entrants: Grace Greenwald, sr.; Gretchen Goebel, jr.; Amina Adhima, so.

Others to watch: Gia Saint, fr.; Megan Kugler, fr.

Outlook: The Warriors, fifth at state last season, return a nice mix of veterans and promising newcomers. Westside is led by Greenwald, who was the 1 singles champ in 2023 and placed fourth a year ago. Adhima was runner-up at 2 singles, Goebel was sixth at 1 doubles. Kingston takes over as coach for Bart Jeseritz.

Omaha Westview

Coach: Stan Shaw

Returning state entrants: Kphu Moo, sr.; Kya Belt, sr.; Harley Jones, sr.; Raynique Williams, jr.; Madeline Bockelman, so.

Others to watch: Bella Rabatin, so.

Outlook: Westview has good experience returning as at state last year Moo played 1 singles and Belt and Jones were at 1 doubles.

Papillion-La Vista

Coach: Mariana Hurst

Returning state entrants: Katie Van Sant, sr.

Others to watch: Avery Wolfe, sr.; Ashley Blodgett, sr.; Aurelia Grams, so.; Sarah Erlbacher, fr.

Outlook: The Monarchs tied for seventh at state last season, but that was senior-led group. Van Sant played 2 singles at state. Hurst said she has a solid group and is looking forward to other stepping into varsity roles.

Class B

Adams Central

Coach: Ed Sughroue

Returning state entrants: Yarethzi Lom, jr.

Others to watch: Kennedy Montague, sr.; Isabel DeJonge, jr.; Peyton Hartman, jr.; Berkley Jacobitz, jr.; Alyssa Janzen, so.; Sarah Lauder, so.; Peighton Hinton, so.; Andee Mucklow, fr.

Outlook: The Patriots graduated an experienced senior Class. Lom is the Patriots' most experienced player as she went 9-6 at 1 singles before playing 2 doubles at state. Sughroue said the returners bring depth and versatility.

Alliance

Coach: Scott Mills

Returning state entrants: Amelia Gibson; Diane Dubray; Makenna Quick

Others to watch: Alivia Osborn; Kaiya Hudson

Outlook: Alliance scored 10 points at state last season and returned good experience. Gibson and Quick were the singles players, while Dubray played 2 doubles. With promising newcomers, Mills expects bigger things this spring.

Beatrice

Coach: Christine Strubel

Returning state entrants: Jorja Boller

Others to watch: Monet Baehr; Addison Koenig

Outlook: Beatrice returns a solid 1 singles player in Boller, who has put in work during the offseason. Baehr and Koenig are returning doubles players. Beatrice has good numbers with 27 players out.

Crete

Coach: Todd Sandberg

Returning state entrants: Sierra Crist, sr.

Others to watch: Jordyn Adam, sr.; Ella Hueskinkvelt, sr.; Evannie Sand, sr.; Lauren Kraus, jr.; Addie Meinke, jr.; Emma Faltin, so.

Outlook: This will be rebuilding season for the Cardinals. They do have 25 players on the roster, including 10 freshmen. This is the first year coaching the girls team for Sandberg, who has been Crete's boys coach.

Elkhorn

Coach: Jon Holtz

Returning state entrants: Kira Ozyornaya, sr.; Ruby Lamski, jr,

Outlook: The Antlers must replace four starters from a team that placed seventh at state. Holtz said JV players from a year ago will need to fill roles and improve as the season progresses. Ozyornaya is back after placing third at 1 singles.

Gering

Coach: Ron Swank

Return state entrants: Aria Schneider; Ashlynn Feil; Arebel Stock; Sarah Baltz; Gabriella Timblin

Others to watch: Ashlee Swan; Neveah Guerin; Cara Schlothauer; Claire Schlothauer

Outlook: The Bulldogs should be improved as five of their six starters are back. Schneider played 1 singles last season, while Stock and Baltz were at 1 doubles.

Grand Island Central Catholic

Coach: James Lowry

Returning state entrants: Arushi Birthi, sr.; Lauren Schardt, sr.; Kelsey Knapp, sr.; Abbie Connick, jr.

Others to watch: Jordan Stegman, sr.

Outlook: The Crusaders will be among the favorites in the Class B team race after they placed second at state a year ago. Both doubles teams were runners-up at state, including Schardt and Knapp at 2 doubles. Birthi placed eighth at 1 singles, Connick was sixth at 2 singles.

Gretna East

Coach: Matthias Mattley

Returning state entrants: Ainsley Foltz, Adri Lerch, Avery Johnson, Amy, Clarke, Cecelia Hansen

Others to watch: Ashley Highley, Taylor Kubesa, Zoe Katsavelis, Agata Pacchiella, Jada Freeland

Outlook: East didn't have any seniors last year, so plenty of players are back as it looks to be much improved. Mattley said Katsavelis is very talented player, Pacchiella is an exchange student from Italy and Freeland place third at state in 2 doubles with Elkhorn last spring.

Hastings St. Cecilia

Coach: Paige Jacobi

Returning state entrants: Kathryn Van Skiver, jr.

Others to watch: Eliza Borer, sr.; Emily Hentzen, jr.; Riley Pedersen, jr.; Allyse Evans, jr.

Outlook: Jacobi, who graduated from St. Cecilia, takes over as coach. The Hawks graduated a big senior Class as VanSkiver is the lone state returner. Borer is this team's lone senior.

Lincoln Christian

Coach: Lisa Van Ostrand

Returning state entrants: Cheney Bott, sr.; Abbie Frost, sr.: Kaylee Boysen, jr.

Outlook: Crusaders return three starters who will likely play bigger roles this season. Boysen played 2 singles a year ago, while Bott and Frost were at 2 doubles.

Lincoln Northwest

Coach: Joe Huston

Returning state entrants: Charlotte Coughlin, sr.; Lilly Keifer, jr.; Kailee Rowland, jr.; Ashlyn Siegel, jr.

Others to watch: Amelia Coughlin, so.

Outlook: Northwest is more experienced team this season as Coughlin and Keifer played 1 doubles at state, Rowland played 2 singles and Siegel was at 2 doubles.

McCook

Coach: Matt Wiemers

Returning state entrants: Izzy Clause, sr.; Roslyn Wiemers, sr.; Brooklynn Gillen, sr.; Abby Schneider, jr.; Elizabeth McConville, jr.

Others to watch: Jaylee Hammond, jr.; Bailee Foster, jr.; Cassidy Rogers, so.; Abi Thompson, so.

Outlook: The Bison return a wealth of experience with five players back from a team that placed third at state. All five won at least 30 matches and they combined for a 177-36 record. With 30 players out, Wiemers also has younger players to push the returning starters.

Omaha Mercy

Coach: Scott Chisholm

Returning state entrants: Evie Kelly, sr.; Lily Goaley, sr.; Emma Welsch, sr.; Micah Ketelson, sr.

Others to watch: Hannah Whitcomb; Hadley Bryan; Brigid Kelly; Hailey Carlsen; Katie Woodling

Outlook: Mercy return good experience and has a big roster. Goaley and Welsch played 1 doubles at state last season, while Evie Kelly played 2 singles.

Omaha Roncalli

Coach: James McDermott

Returning state entrants: Miranda Thompson, Dena Thew

Outlook: McDermott said the Crimson Pride have more players out this season as new players look to improve throughout the spring. Thompson played 1 doubles a year ago, while Thew was at 2 doubles.

Omaha Skutt

Coach: Chase Petersen

Returning state entrants: Marin Brummund, jr.; Kate Baumert, jr.; Victoria Leu, jr.

Others to watch: Meghan Anderson, sr.; Hannah Pham, sr.; Estelle McIntosh; Rachel Gwinn; Lauren Wemhoff; Natalie Beninato; Madilyn Eich

Outlook: After placing sixth at state a year ago, the junior Class comes into the season leading the SkyHawks as Brummund and Baumert placed seventh at 1 doubles last season and Leu was third at 2 singles.

Ralston

Coach: Tommy Siske

Returning state entrants: Lilly Elsasser, sr.; Bayla Bodnar, sr.; Kat Busenbark, sr.; Havyn Harms, jr.; Maddie Vukov, jr.

Outlook: The Rams return an experienced squad, led by Elsasser at 1 singles. Bodnar played 1 doubles a year ago, Harms was at 2 singles and Vukov and Busenbark played 2 doubles.