2025 New York City Girls’ High School Preview
As the U.S. Open brings the best tennis players in the world to New York, it also signifies the return of a new school year, and thus, a fresh season of high school girls’ tennis in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) in the five boroughs.
Last season proved to be an historic year of girls tennis in the City. James Madison captured its first championship in the sport in nearly 50 years as it defeated McKee/Staten Island Tech 3-2 to win the PSAL 2A Championship.
“The entire squad earned and deserved the title of City Champions, and it will be nice to have ‘2024’ printed along with ‘1978’ listed on the banner hanging in the gymnasium,” head coach Matthew Nanes told NY Tennis Magazine last November.
In the PSAL 1A Championship, Abraham Lincoln took home the first tennis title in the program’s history as it won a nailbiter over the High School for Environmental Studies in the finals.
“I promised myself and these girls that we would come back this season and dominate the division to get what we felt we deserved,” said Lincoln head coach Vincent Garcia. “We absolutely could not wait to get the team together this year, and we fought hard and we did it.”
New York Tennis Magazine took a look at some of the team’s to watch this season.
*All players and dates are subject to change
Teams to Watch
James Madison
They just enjoyed the best season the program has had in the last half-century, and the Lady Knights are poised to build on that success this fall. Returning will be its three singles players that helped guide the team to the 2A New York City title, as Mariia Vainshtein, Nicoletta Draganchyuk and Milana Markov, who spearheaded the lineup, are all back. The former two will be seniors and out to finish their careers with another title, while Markov will be a sophomore, and with another year of PSAL experience under her belt should be even better. One half of both the first doubles and second doubles teams have graduated, but Sofia Vinnik who played first doubles as a freshman, and Irma Gaidukova, who played second doubles as a junior, return with championship experience.
McKee/Staten Island Tech
The city title was within reach for the Seagulls of Staten Island Tech last season, and that means they will be more motivated than ever this season. As a sophomore a year ago, Priyanka Shah led the way at first singles as she went undefeated both in the regular season, and in the playoffs, posting a combined 9-0 record. Nicole Soltsov will provide leadership as a senior in the second singles position, as will senior Katherine Kobichev in the third singles spot. The senior pairing of Alina Pokhylko and Dominika Schutz should retain their position at the top of the doubles lineup, and with the bulk of its squad returning, Staten Island Tech will be a threat to make a deep run once again.
Bronx Science
A semifinalist a year ago, Bronx Science is eager to return to the championship match like it had the previous three seasons. The Wolverines will have a potent lineup capable of doing just that, led by junior Leila Patel who was undefeated at first singles in the regular season last year.. Behind her will be senior Akari Wientzen in the second singles position, and key depth pieces like Sofia Lee Verovic, Isabella Malali, Mia Mkrtchyan, Evelyn Morris, Olivia Lam and Morgan Greenfield round out a deep lineup that is capable of returning to the PSAL 2A final.
Hunter
Two years ago, Hunter reigned supreme as the New York City “A” Division champions. Now, the Hawks aspire to get back to that point, especially after being eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs last season. Hunter returns its entire starting lineup from last year’s squad which includes the singles trio of Diana Nepomnyashchaya, Chloe Chung and Claudia Constantinescu, who played first, second and third singles, respectively, last fall. The first doubles duo of Amy Ma & Sophie Pinsker, as well as the second doubles pairing of Ana Goyle & Chloe Chen, are both back to round out the lineup, as Hunter aims to reclaim its title as city champion.
Stuyvesant
While one of the best players in New York City, Sabrina Xu, has graduated, the Lady Lobsters of Stuyvesant have the talent to make up for the loss. Mia Laks, who played second singles last year, will step into a bigger role during her junior campaign, as will Emily Harsono, who played third singles last season as a freshman. Isabell Huang & Ia Sofocleous were the first doubles tandem as sophomores and look to build on that success in their junior seasons, as will the second doubles team of Sophie Shih & Elizabeth Yu. Stuyvesant was the 11th seed in last season’s playoffs, but the Lady Lobsters have higher goals this season.
Tottenville
The end to the Tottenville season a year ago came in heartbreaking fashion in the quarterfinals, and the Pirates want to get that bad taste out of their mouth this season. Led by a trio of seniors in singles play, Julia Sniadowski, Apollinariia Stepanenko and Eveline Aleksandrov, at first, second and third singles, respectively, Tottenville has a singles lineup capable of competing with anyone in the city. With Amy Dong, Barbare Okroshidze and Roaa Youssef returning to anchor the doubles play, Tottenville will look to build on last season’s run to the final eight
Townsend Harris
Townsend Harris had one of the youngest starting lineups in all of New York City last season and still earned the fifth-seed in the team playoffs. It would lose a tough matchup to Bronx Science in the quarterfinals, but with another year of experience, they should be ready to go even further this year. Elizabeth Sabaev played first singles as a freshman, Micaela Galicia played second singles as a freshman and Morgan Ma played third singles as a sophomore, and all three will lead a determined Hawks squad with added experience.
High School for Environmental Studies
The runners-up in the PSAL 1A Championship last season, the High School for Environmental Studies have a clear goal in mind this season: get back to the finals, and bring it home. Led by Grace Mahabir at first singles, and seniors Lian Wachspress and Grace Mahabir at second and third singles, respectively, the Eagles have the singles play that will allow it to compete with anyone at the 1A level. If the team can get solid doubles play, which will be anchored by Oumy Ndiaye and Shay Fairweather, look for the Eagles to once again be in contention for the city title.
Francis Lewis
After being ousted by the eventual champions in the quarterfinals in 2024, the Patriots of Francis Lewis are back to take the next step in 2025. It’s top two singles players return to lead the way, with seniors Anush Yadav at first singles and Isabella Djokoic at second singles anchoring the lineup. If Francis Lewis can solidify its doubles play with returning players Amber Lai, Emily Zheng and Karen Jun, plus some newcomers to the lineup, the Patriots will be a threat deep in the playoffs.
Brooklyn Tech
Eva Yevdayev leads a Brooklyn Tech team that finished 2024 with an early playoff exit. After securing the sixth-seed in the 2A playoffs, the Engineers were ousted in the opening round, something it aims to avoid this fall. Yevdayev will be the senior at the top of the lineup and hopes to build on last year’s success, while Emma Kusakabe looks to be a stable force in the second singles position. Seniors, Mia Peng & Soraya Kamath could move up to first doubles after being a great second doubles pairing a year ago, to potentially give Brooklyn Tech the top-end talent that could help guide them to an extended playoff run.
