Girls' Tennis: 2025 Season Preview
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Girls' Tennis: 2025 Season Preview
After a dominant 2024 season, Newark Academy girls’ tennis is set to return to the court with high expectations. Coming off a nearly perfect campaign, the Minutemen will look to stay sharp as they prepare for another competitive run in the Super Essex Conference American Division. This season, the team will be led by first-year head coach Kara Dehnad. Dehnad joined Newark Academy in 2024 as the varsity boys’ tennis assistant coach and helped lead the team to one county, conference, NA Invitational and state championship title.
2024 Season Recap
The Minutemen finished 2024 with an impressive 17–1 record, earning both the SEC American Division and Essex County Tournament titles, and were named the SEC American Division Team of the Year. That success was powered by a talented senior class: Ayanna Varma ’25 (All-SEC American Division First Team, All-State Third Team, All-Non Public Second Team Singles), Sarah Wang ’25 and Maddy Kayyali ’25 (All-SEC and All-Non Public Second Team Doubles) and Siyona Bordia ’25 (SEC Honorable Mention).
Last Season’s Returning Award Winners and Captains
Several standout underclassmen are back this season, taking away some of the sting from the graduation of last year’s highly decorated senior class. Lily Schonbraun ’27 leads the way after an incredible sophomore season that earned her First Team honors in the SEC American Division, All-State All-Flight Second Team Singles and All-Non Public Third Team Singles. She’ll be joined by Yuxi Zhang ’27 (All-SEC American Division First Team) and Kayra Aran ’26 (SEC Honorable Mention). Captains Shonbraun, Carly Polow ’26 and Yuxi Zhang ’27 will help guide the team.
Season Outlook
The Minutemen will lean on their experienced returners as they take on another stacked SEC American Division. Matchups against Millburn, Livingston, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, and Mount Saint Dominic lie ahead. Newark Academy opens the season on Wednesday, September 3 at Columbia at 4 p.m. They will host the Newark Academy Tennis Invitational Tournament on Saturday, September 13th, where they welcome Holy Angels, Chatham and Oak Knoll for some early-season elevated competition.