High school girls tennis is nearing the end of the regular season, and many of the usual powerful teams are again in contention for championships.
Olentangy Berlin senior Soleil Cordell, the defending Division I state singles champion, has won each of her first nine matches in straight sets.
The Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team tournament
has reached the district semifinal stage, with both of last year’s district champions still alive.The postseason draw is Sept. 20, and the sectional tournaments for central Ohio teams begin 10 days later.
Here are five central Ohio storylines so far this season:
Westerville Central thriving with depth, youth
Even Warhawks coach Bradley Baker admitted that an 11-0 start with one senior in the program and a first-year player who is undefeated at third singles
is “weird,” but that is where Central found itself late last week.
Junior Maya Olmos (7-4), sophomore Anna Turney (7-4) and junior Peace Orife (11-0) have thrived in singles. The team’s only senior, Candice Pho, has thrived with junior Camilla Hewitt at first doubles with an 8-2 record, and freshman Violet Baker and Emery Muller were 11-0 at second doubles.
“It’s weird that we have the record we do. It’s just depth,” Bradley Baker said. “We’re a very young team. As far as standouts go, it’s [more about] depth and a robust lineup of kids coming through. We’re winning at different courts. I don’t care who you are, winning on court one is tough and when we do, it’s a bonus. Maya just fights.”
Central’s schedule down the stretch includes usual powers Dublin Coffman and Dublin Jerome as well as league rival New Albany.
Familiarity, youth driving Dublin Jerome
Freshman Sofia Rivera-Alvarez has charged to the front of Jerome’s lineup, winning seven of her first nine matches at No. 1 singles, but neither that nor having three freshmen in his top seven is a surprise to coach Rob Carlson.
While Carlson is in his first season leading the program, he coached almost the entire roster at some point during several years at Eversole Run Middle School.
Freshmen Allison Ecker and Gia Yang have played varsity, and juniors Nainika Sahai (8-1) and Ruiyan Xu (8-2) have held down second and third singles for the Celtics (9-2).
“I knew what I was getting into with this group,” Carlson said. “I knew their talent level. My focus was just culture building and setting goals for both the short term and long term. In general, they have pretty much met my expectations. …
“[Rivera-Alvarez] has a complete game. She’s not one-dimensional. She can battle from the baseline, but she has no problem with approach shots and attacking at the net.”
New addition helps Watterson to fast start
Successful at nearly every court this season and boosted by the addition of junior first-singles player Ava Scott, Watterson won its first 10 matches, a streak broken Sept. 11 with a 5-0 loss at perennial power Upper Arlington.
Scott (5-1), who was previously home-schooled and began attending Watterson this fall, and classmate Chloe McClymont (6-6) have split time atop the lineup. Scott won her first five matches before a 6-3, 6-1 loss to UA’s Alexa Roth, a two-time state qualifier.
“[Scott] fits into the team really well,” coach Tyler Johnston said. “She battles hard and is just looking for an opportunity. One of the biggest things she will get out of this year is the atmosphere of team tennis and getting ready for college. Team tennis is not always easy. There’s some pressure that comes with [playing first singles].”
Senior Lilly Kasson is 8-3 between second and third singles. Juniors Julia Caravella and Dory Scharfenbarger were unbeaten at first doubles before Sept. 11, and seniors Vivian Mettes and Bella Schilling (6-3) have anchored second doubles.
Watterson’s earlier matchups included 4-1 wins over usual powers Jerome and Toledo Notre Dame Academy and a 3-2 victory over New Albany.
Elliott leads way for small Reynoldsburg team
A consistent anchor at or near the top of Reynoldsburg’s lineup throughout her career, senior Riley Elliott started this season 7-1 at first singles in pursuit of her first Division I district tournament berth.
Her only loss entering Sept. 15 was against 2025 state qualifier Nora Grennan of Watkins Memorial (6-1, 6-0). Elliott is undecided on playing in college, said Raiders coach Les Somogyi, whose team has just nine players this fall.
“She’s one of those special few who really demonstrates her passion for the sport,” Somogyi said. “She performs best when she is on the baseline and hitting hard. When she is against somebody who is a hard hitter, she rallies with them incredibly. That’s her favorite style of playing. Her inside-out forehand is lethal. She’s not that big, but she hits so hard with her forehand that I am just amazed.”
OTCA tournament reaches semifinal stage
Four teams, including three-time defending district champion UA, remain alive in the OTCA Division I district tournament while half of the Division II final is set.
UA will host Gahanna Lincoln in one Division I semifinal, and New Albany will host Jerome in the other. The winners will face off in the district final, likely in early October.
In Division II, Columbus School for Girls will visit Columbus Academy – last year’s state runner-up – or Wellington for the district final.
UA was third in Division I last year.
The district champions advance to the state tournament Oct. 17, the day after the individual state finals, in Mason.
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 storylines in central Ohio girls tennis ahead of OHSAA postseason
