By Tammi Brown
Aptos High Girls Tennis had an amazing season, securing the 2024 SCCAL League Title with a perfect 10-0 League record!
We had nine returning players this year including Team Captain Aviana Andrews, a senior who was an undefeated force at number two singles. This was Avi’s third year with the team, following up her 2023 MVP undefeated season at number four singles.
Freshman Kiana Safari was new to the team but stepped right into the number one singles position like she’d been with us for years. Kiana never dropped a set in League matches, she had an amazing win-loss record of 78-6 in games played.
Three-year veteran Coral Collins, a junior, had another great competitive season, anchoring the team at number three singles and helping us secure wins in several pivotal matches.
Our “Team of 13” loves to play tennis and is constantly improving, giving us strength in both singles and doubles. This dedication is evident in our 66-4 individual match count in League matches. We are a tennis family, supporting and encouraging each other every day.
Four Aptos players made it into the finals of the SCCAL Singles and Doubles Tournament on Nov. 6.
Kiana Safari (#1 seed) and Aviana Andrews (#3 seed) played each other in the singles final with Kiana taking the match. Coral Collins and Isabella Calderon (seeded #3) played in the doubles finals and were defeated by a very strong pair from Scotts Valley, Sofia Niklaus and Erin Szymanski (seeded #1).
Aptos plays Stevenson School in Pebble Beach in the first round of the CCS Tournament on Nov. 12 and Kiana Safari will represent the SCCAL in the CCS Singles Tournament at Bay Club Courtside in Los Gatos on Nov. 18.
It’s been an awesome season with a wonderful group of players and I’ve loved every minute of it.
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Tammi Brown is head coach of the Aptos High School girls tennis team.
PHOTO: BACK ROW (from left): Isabella Calderon, Natalia Calderon, Julia Blevins, Kiana Safari, Sadie Chapman, Coral Collins, Neci Hoeptner, Charlotte Long, Gia Arista
FRONT ROW (from left): Head Coach Tammi Brown, Finn Gansaeuer Pilcher, Gamble Kellermyer, Team Captain Aviana Andrews, Aracely Ritchie, Assistant Coach Sam Brown.