Division: I
Coach: Lee Herrington (4th year)
Last year: 4-10, did not make tournament in D-II
Returning starters: Sydney Herrington, jr.; Ravalika Damerla, sr.; Alexa Bonvie, jr.; Addie Dinsmoor, jr.; Manu Komma, so.
Top newcomers: Rachel Achong, fr.; Anna Michaud, so.; Sylvia Caldesi, sr.
Outlook: Despite missing out on the Division II tournament last year, the Green Giants are moving up to D-I this season. They certainly won’t be overmatched at the top of the ladder with Sydney Herrington, who won the 2016 state singles tournament after finishing as runner-up in 2015. She also teamed with Damerla to reach the semifinals of the state doubles tournament last spring. Plus, Brady added a quality freshman in Achong and has three returners with varsity experience to fill out the top six.
“Our goal is to be competitive in the division,” Coach Herrington said.
Teams to beat: Bedford, Concord, Exeter, Central and Hanover
Division: II
Coach: Mark Struthers (10th year)
Last year: 8-7, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Cameron Chick, sr.; Jillian Gordon, sr.
Top newcomers: Meaghan Wimsatt, so.
Outlook: The Bears graduated several seniors that contributed to last season’s tournament team, plus they lost last year’s No. 4 player to injury, so there’s some rebuilding to be done. Adding Wimsatt helps. The sophomore will be competing for the No. 2 or 3 singles position. But Coe-Brown will need the bottom half of its ladder to develop quickly if it wants to return to the D-II playoffs.
Teams to beat: Oyster River, St. Thomas, Portsmouth
Division: II
Coach: David Goulet (3rd year)
Last year: 1-12, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Jaden Russell, jr.; Alison Sobozenski, so.
Outlook: With only five girls on the roster, Pembroke can’t even field a full ladder, but the Spartans are still looking forward to gaining some experience this spring. They did add Kaitlyn Thompson for her first year of tennis and are hoping she can help the team improve on last year’s win total.
“As our captain, we anticipate she will bring positive leadership to our team this year,” Goulet said.
Division: III
Coach: Jonsey Rainville (5th year)
Last year: 16-1, D-III runner-up
Returning starters: Nandita Kasireddy, sr.; Claire Mulvaney, sr.
Top newcomers: Izzy Urbina, sr.; Gwen Molind, jr.; Emma Conley, soph.; Lara Chern fr.; Isabelle Dolcino, soph.
Outlook: Bow has been to six straight semifinals, four of the last six championship matches and won titles in 2011 and 2013. Yes, they Falcons lost four of the top six players from last year’s team that didn’t lose until its 5-4 defeat in the final against Conant, but don’t expect them to struggle too much with the transition. Kasireddy (No. 2 last year) and Mulvaney (No. 4 last year) are good building blocks and all of the players who are potentially stepping into the top six to start this season were on the team last year, with the exception of the freshman Chern.
“The good news is once again we have another wonderful group of girls who will work hard to improve every day,” Rainville said.
Teams to beat: Conant, Pelham
Division: III
Coach: Hermann Defregger (9th year)
Last year: 0-14, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Yzabell Mitchell, sr.; Sarah Fillion, jr.; Josey Curley, so.; Olivia Salesky, so.
Top newcomers: Reagan McIntire, fr.
Outlook: The biggest goal for the Golden Eagles is to get out from the bottom of D-III. The addition of McIntire, who could potentially be Gilford’s No. 1 singles player as a freshman, provides a foundation for the team, as does the return of four starters.
Teams to beat: Littleton, Bow, Profile
Division: III
Coach: Jan Borsh and Jaimee Topkin
Last year: 5-9, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Gabriele Nedeau, jr.; Alyssa Floyd, so.
Top newcomers: Brenna Chrusciel, fr.; Ella St. Cyr, fr.; Phoebe Hoag, fr.; Katherine Losada, fr.; Molly Kernen, fr.; Ava Duymazlar, fr.; Chloe Brown, so.; Isabella Hoag, jr.
Outlook: With eight underclassmen, Borsh and Topkin are working with an inexperienced group. So it will certainly be a developmental year in Meredith, but the Lakers are hoping to lay the groundwork for success going forward.
“These girls are new to the sport, but have a lot of promise,” Borsh said.
Division: III
Coach: Laura Joslin-King (5th year)
Last year: 1-12, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Sarah Long, jr.; Elise Paquette, sr.; Morganne Flinkstrom, sr.; Ellie Mellon, sr.; Kaitlyn Penrose, sr.
Outlook: The Cougars return five starters to a team that is looking to improve over last season’s record. “We are looking forward to finally starting the season (outdoors),” Coach Joslin-King said.