The high school girls tennis season was perhaps the best in area history across the board.
Four teams qualified for state and three were regional champions – West Ottawa, Zeeland West and Holland Christian.
With that success, the Holland Sentinel All-Area Girls Tennis Team will be slightly larger than in past years.
Here is a look a the all-area team, led by the player of the year.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Evie Price
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Junior
FLIGHT: No. 1 singles
NET WORTH: Finished 18-10. Won the Division 1 regional championship and was a conference finalist.
COACH’S VIEW: “Evie has impressed me so much over the past year. Sometimes you will see players take a step back from their training when going from 10th to 11th grade. They start driving, they often get jobs, the car gives them far more freedom of movement, and often players will choose to redirect their time to other activities. As Evie has gone through this transition, if anything, I think she is training even harder. With Izzy Gitler, an uber talented incoming freshman who trains around the clock coming in this spring, there was buzz about who would take the No. 1 singles position. Izzy ended up being every bit as good as advertised, but because Evie made such a commitment herself in the offseason, she was able to retain the top position. Once in the spot, she went on to have an incredibly successful season once again. On top of that, she was chosen to be a team captain as a junior, and was incredible in that role too. She still has the most well-rounded game of anyone I’ve coached, with the strength of her game being her mind. Her talent helped lead the team to a fifth-place finish in Division 1, the best finish in the history of our program. If she continues to train like she did over the last 12 months, she’s going to be an absolute force at the state level for her senior year. I’m so proud of Evie and lucky to be her coach.” – Pete Schwallier
ALL-AREA FIRST TEAM
Emily Haskill
SCHOOL: Zeeland West
GRADE: Junior
FLIGHT: No. 1 singles
NET WORTH: Won OK Black title. Finished regional runner-up to eventual state champion. Finished 23-6 to lead Dux to first regional title.
COACH’S VIEW: “A comment about them: Emily has improved every year over the past three years. She provides a steady presence for our team at No. 1 singles and has proven year in and year out that she belongs in the conversation with some of the best players in the state. She provides an example through her hard work and through her dedication to not only her improvement but also helping our program grow.” – Lance McKinney
Ahava LeFebre
SCHOOL: Holland
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 1 singles
NET WORTH: Finished in the semifinals at conference and regionals despite an injury. All-conference in OK Black.
COACH’S VIEW: “Ahava’s confidence, poise, and style of play let her have control over her points through her matches. She was able to find success through these ways. Ahava really came into her own style of play and leadership with the team.” – Annika Williams
Camryn Nadig
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 1 singles
NET WORTH: Won regional title and was third in OK Black. Will play at Calvin next year.
COACH’S VIEW: “Cam has worked so hard this year and improved tremendously in her all-around game since the beginning of the season. Her focus and drive has elevated her game to the next level knowing she is going on to play college tennis at Calvin next year. Her strength is her shot tolerance and making a lot of balls and has worked hard this season at adding more elements to her game. She has definitely added more power to her game and a better attacking game which will also help her for playing doubles next year in college.” – Lynn Bender
Izzy Gitler
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Freshman
FLIGHT: No. 2 singles
NET WORTH: Finished 25-4. Was a state semifinalist after winning conference and regional titles.
COACH’S VIEW: “Izzy Gitler is the single hardest worker I’ve ever coached. Her potential is the moon and the stars.” – Pete Schwallier
Iyla Holmes
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Junior
FLIGHT: No. 2 singles
NET WORTH: Finished 15-7 overall. Won the OK Black Conference and Division 3 regional title. Reached state quarterfinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “Iyla is climbing up the ranks from coming off a great season last year at No. 4 singles to a bigger role at #2 singles spot this year. She has definitely added more power to her game and she is known for her amazing shot tolerance of just making a ton of balls. Seeing players with bigger serves and more variety In their games was a big adjustment for her but she is picking it up fast and understanding how to play stronger players and adding more variety to her game. She has worked hard on her serve and movement around the court this year with improved speed and footwork which has helped build her confidence, she is a human wall and makes players just hit a ton of balls to wear them out.” – Lynn Bender
Harley Brown
SCHOOL: Zeeland West
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 2 singles
NET WORTH: Finished 25-4. Was Division 2 regional champion and conference runner-up.
COACH’S VIEW: “Harley has spent the past four years building for this season. She has dedicated herself more than anyone I have coached in the past to improve from year to year and this year was a culmination of those efforts. She will be impossible to replace, but she has provided a strong example of what it takes to be part of a successful program and what you can achieve if you push yourself.” – Lance McKinney
Sydney Shafer
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Freshman
FLIGHT: No. 3 singles
NET WORTH: Reached state finals. Finished 24-5. Won conference and regional championships.
COACH’S VIEW: “Sydney is one of the top freshmen to join our program. She matched Evie Price’s freshman achievement of making it to the state championship match at No. 3 singles. She is in good company and is improving fast.” – Pete Schwallier
Halle Reider
SCHOOL: Zeeland West
GRADE: Junior
FLIGHT: No. 3 singles
NET WORTH: Finished 26-3 with a three-set loss in the regional final and state quarterfinals as two of them.
COACH’S VIEW: “Halle spent the offseason getting ready for this year. She is a multi-sport athlete which you can see on the court. She often outworks her opponent and is always composed and in control on the court. This season showed what she was capable of and I can’t wait to see what she does next year as a senior and one of our leaders.” – Lance McKinney
Maggie Rothstein
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 4 singles
NET WORTH: Went 22-6. Won OK Red and Division 1 regional titles. Reached state quarterfinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “Maggie’s successful transition from doubles to singles completed the strongest singles lineup we’ve ever produced, which earned a record 10 combined points at the state meet.” – Pete Schwallier
Aneliece Yin
SCHOOL: Zeeland West
GRADE: Sophomore
FLIGHT: No. 4 singles
NET WORTH: Finished 28-2 with one of those losses in the state semifinals. Won Division 2 regional championship and OK Black Conference title.
COACH’S VIEW: “Each of the players on our team this yearshowed a significant amount of growth from this year to last, but Aneliece holds the crown for making the biggest leap. Not only does her record show the time and effort she put into this past offseason to improve, it also shows how she had one goal and one mindset this season: to do anything she could to help our program have the season it was capable of. This season showed what she is capable of and I can’t wait to see what next year holds as I know she will work just as hard this offseason to have an amazing junior year.” – Lance McKinney
Kassie Evenhouse
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 1 doubles
NET WORTH: Went 21-2 on the season. Won OK Black Conference and regional championships. Reached state quarterfinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “This strong senior duo of a team is one of the strongest doubles I’ve ever coached, they both are tall and come with big serves and a big game. They are great from the baseline and just as strong at the net with their spot on volleys and big overheads. They have continued to elevate their game this season with being more consistent and they both move well on the court and they love attacking the net. Their big serves is what gets them a lot of easy volley points for their partner at the net.” – Lynn Bender
Stella Klooster
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 1 doubles
NET WORTH: Went 21-2 on the season. Won OK Black Conference and regional championships. Reached state quarterfinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “This strong senior duo of a team is one of the strongest doubles I’ve ever coached, they both are tall and come with big serves and a big game. They are great from the baseline and just as strong at the net with their spot on volleys and big overheads. They have continued to elevate their game this season with being more consistent and they both move well on the court and they love attacking the net. Their big serves is what gets them a lot of easy volley points for their partner at the net.” – Lynn Bender
Sophia Blauwkamp
SCHOOL: Hamilton
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 1 doubles
NET WORTH: Regional champions and state quarterfinalists.
COACH’S VIEW: “My girls worked very hard on their games during the offseason and it showed on the court this year.” – Steve Lubbers
Erin Meiste
SCHOOL: Hamilton
GRADE: Sophomore
FLIGHT: No. 1 doubles
NET WORTH: Regional champions and state quarterfinalists.
COACH’S VIEW: “My girls worked very hard on their games during the offseason and it showed on the court this year.” – Steve Lubbers
Hope Hughes
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Junior
FLIGHT: No. 2 doubles
NET WORTH: Finished 19-9. Won the OK Red title and finished regional finalists.
COACH’S VIEW: “Haylee and Hope made the biggest jump of anyone in the lineup from last year to this year. They backed it up with a Conference Title and wins over some of the states very best teams.” – Pete Schwallier
Haylee Geerlings
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Sophomore
FLIGHT: No. 2 doubles
NET WORTH: Finished 19-9. Won the OK Red title and finished regional finalists.
COACH’S VIEW: “Haylee and Hope made the biggest jump of anyone in the lineup from last year to this year. They backed it up with a Conference Title and wins over some of the states very best teams.” – Pete Schwallier
Hope Bruinsma
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 2 doubles
NET WORTH: Went 19-3. Won OK Black Conference and Division 3 regional titles. Reached state semifinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “This is a new doubles duo that was paired together this year so it took some time early on working out some kinks. Hope came off major back surgery and was off for most of the winter but we knew it would just take longer for her recovery to peak at the end of the season. Hope is planning to play college tennis at Grace University in the fall also. This is a great doubles team combining consistency and great aggressive net play using Hope’s height to pick off as many balls at the net as possible.” – Lynn Bender
Lily Wierenga
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 2 doubles
NET WORTH: Went 19-3. Won OK Black Conference and Division 3 regional titles. Reached state semifinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “This is a new doubles duo that was paired together this year so it took some time early on working out some kinks. Hope came off major back surgery and was off for most of the winter but we knew it would just take longer for her recovery to peak at the end of the season. Lily has improved her overall game this past year and in all areas and is one of our best and most consistent groundstrokes. Great technique and smooth and steady to set her partner up at the net.” – Lynn Bender
Audrey Anderson
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Sophomore
FLIGHT: No. 3 doubles
NET WORTH: Finished 23-5. Won conference and regional titles and reached the Division 1 state semifinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “Audrey and Liv’s power and athleticism made them nearly unstoppable. Their season culminated with a Conference and Regional title, capped with a run all the way to the state semifinals.” – Pete Schwallier
Olivia Smith
SCHOOL: West Ottawa
GRADE: Sophomore
FLIGHT: No. 3 doubles
NET WORTH: Finished 23-5. Won conference and regional titles and reached the Division 1 state semifinals.
COACH’S VIEW: “Audrey and Liv’s power and athleticism made them nearly unstoppable. Their season culminated with a conference and regional title, capped with a run all the way to the state semifinals.” – Pete Schwallier
Izzy Delcalzo
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 3 doubles
NET WORTH: Went 18-4. Won OK Black Conference and Division 3 regional titles.
COACH’S VIEW: “Total of only four losses and three of them were in third-set tiebreakers. They are a sneaky good No. 3 doubles team with both great servers, solid groundstroke game and they both love to be aggressive at the net. Izzy has a sneaky lefty spin and slice which she gets a lot of free points off of as its hard to read the spin for some players and it set Lucia up at the net.” – Lynn Bender
Lucia VanKlompenberg
SCHOOL: Holland Christian
GRADE: Senior
FLIGHT: No. 3 doubles
NET WORTH: Went 18-4. Won OK Black Conference and Division 3 regional titles.
COACH’S VIEW: “They are a sneaky good 3 doubles team with both great servers, solid groundstroke game and they both love to be aggressive at the net. Lucia has worked hard all winter to bring her game up another level and added stronger and more consistent play from the deep court with a smart sense at the net. These two together have had a great senior season.” – Lynn Bender
ALL-AREA SECOND TEAM
Pippa Boerman, Zeeland East
Braidee Bursley, Zeeland West
Kate Ferguson, Holland
Kallyn Gaul, West Ottawa
Mariah Geerts, Holland
Olivia Grotenhuis, Zeeland East
Raileigh Jones, Zeeland East
Lovelle Kim, West Ottawa
Mallory Paff, West Ottawa
Adele Plycraft, Hamilton
Sophia Poretta, Holland
Kylie Reitema, Hamilton
Elizabeth Rogovich, Zeeland East
Kiana Samora, Zeeland East
Molly Settlemyre, Zeeland West
Hope Sikorski, West Ottawa
Chloe Tait, Holland Christian
Evie Traverse, Holland Christian
Allie VanOmmen, Hamilton
Mahalia Vis, Zeeland East
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Meet the Holland Sentinel All-Area Girls Tennis Team led by West Ottawa’s Evie Price
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Dan D'Addona, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
