By Caleb Knudsen
There are several return players on the girls tennis team this year, and it’s making for an even stronger team performance in 2024.
Leading the pack is junior Meher Dhiman, who “graduated” from the No. 2 slot to be the team’s No. 1 player this year, and also serves as team captain. She has had several successful matches so far this year in the team’s eight outings, which included a collective 7-0 sweep of Piner on Sept. 10. (High school matches usually include four singles matches and three doubles matches.)
Not only did Meher lead the team to the Piner sweep, but two days later the team traveled to Maria Carrillo in Rincon Valley, a team that coach Mary Beth Chandler described as “a wall of talent.” Although the Lady Pumas won the meet 5-2, the bright spots came in the singles rounds.
Dhiman beat their No. 1 player in two sets, and Healdsburg’s No. 4 player, Claire Berry, also swept her opponent. “This was an amazing feat!” enthused Chandler. “This was not the everyday!”
Team captain Dhiman said, “It’s exciting to watch the girls come together as a team. I love the team’s energy on game day; there’s nothing like Hounds pride!”
Other singles players on the Greyhound girls team include Amelia Wickersham and Madeleine Munselle, although Chandler said that changes are allowed and the lineup may evolve.
The doubles teams are Isabel Lickey and Ruby Leffew at No. 1, and Sana Katsuki and Margaret Kosta at No. 2. The third doubles team rotates to give more students a chance to compete, and includes pairings of Julia Vega Gallardo and Kathleen Arriaga, Ashley Jenkins and Ivy Stark, Evelyn Ponitkoff and Ava Wolske, and Hayley Davis and Sophia Miranda Martinez.
To this point in the young season, the Greyhounds are 3-2, with wins against Santa Rosa and Montgomery as well as Piner. Upcoming meets at home include Ukiah on Sept. 17 (results too late for press time) and Analy on Sept. 24.
