2010 Preview: Sachem North Girls Tennis

After a strong preseason, Sachem North's girls tennis team eagerly awaits Monday's season opener against Middle Country. The team had a disappointing season in 2009, but with top tier player Kelly Gochan and Allie Riss returning to the mix, not to mention several promising additions, head coach Larry Saposnick feels his girls can contend.

Record last year: 4-8 (4th in League VI Division III)

Head coach: Larry Saposnick (7th year)

Top players

• Kelly Gochan
• Allie Riss
• Sam Pedneault
• Diana Isaacson
• Patricia Connolly 

Player breakdown

Returning to the fold this year is Gochan, North's No. 1 singles player, who was an All-League selection in both 2008 and 2009. Gochan has been on varsity since 8th grade, making this her fifth year wielding a racket for Sachem. Another star player for the Arrows is Riss, who is also a standout for Sachem lacrosse. In addition both Diana Isaacson and Patricia Connolly are returning to the team this season.

"I have two great tenth graders on my team and I'm hoping to see good things out of them as well," said Saposnick, referring to Sharon Luebs and Sam Pedneault. "I like to switch people up and give them a chance to play singles and doubles but I'm still working out the kinks in my lineup so I don't know yet who will be filling which roles."

Expectations

"I fell like this is the strongest team I've ever had in the seven years that I've been here," said Saposnick, a teacher at North who also coaches boys tennis in the spring. "My goal for this year is to defiantly be an above .500 team. Obviously I'm hoping to win the league but we'll start small and take it from there."

With six players graduating from last year's team the Arrows had much rebuilding to concern themselves with in the off-season. However, Saposnick feels they have assembled a potent team that can compete with others in its league, including last season's first place Port Jefferson.

"We look pretty good. Even my weakest kid can hit pretty well and I don't think I could say that in the past," said Saposnick, who played tennis for Sachem when he attended the high school. "I've always had two or three players that are a little weak on the team and we don't have that this year at all."

Playing in League VI makes qualifying for the playoffs a difficult task as only the league winner earns a bid. Meanwhile the top four teams in League V earn postseason berths with the League VI champion having to face the 4th seeded team in an out-of-tournament game to determine which squad will advance to the Division III quarterfinals.

Key games

• Sachem East 9/15 (away), 10/1 (home)                                
• Stony Brook 9/24 (home), 10/12 (away)                                                               
• Port Jefferson 9/27 (away), 10/14 (home)