How far can they advance? Section V girls tennis players competing in state tournament
How high can Leyla Tozin place in her return to the state tennis tournament?
The Brighton junior will enter her first match of Thursday's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Tennis Individual Championship tournament in Schenectady with an perfect 17-0 record. She placed fourth in the individual singles tournament in 2022.
Tozin had another year of Section V dominance. She championed Class A1 for her fourth straight title, then repeated at the state qualifiers single champ. Tozin defeated Victor's Emily Miller in both finals.
Tozin will travel with some teammates. Ella Hall and Samantha Kotz, A1 doubles champs, won the state qualifiers final by narrowly defeating Shu Shu Wu and Caroline Fitzsimmons 7-5, 7-6(7-5) in their latest competitive match against Pittsford Sutherland duo. They helped Brighton win Class A1 for the the team's ninth straight section crown.
The NYSPHSAA's first round begins Thursday morning. Championships of the singles and doubles tournaments are Saturday morning. Draws of the NYSPHSAA tourney were not available Wednesday afternoon.
HAC's Sophia Carling won tough qualifier
Harley Allendale Columbia senior Sophia Carling has cruised through Class B throughout her career, but qualifying to states was tough this year.
Carling's lone loss came at the state qualifiers tournament when she fell to Miller in the semifinals. But Carling responded with a gutsy, come-from-behind 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(7-4) win over Pittsford Mendon star Omika Patel in the third placed match.
The Class B1 crown was Carling's fourth straight Section V championship. She'll have two chances at a state title. Her undefeated HAC Wolves (14-0) beat Section VI's Lewiston Porter 5-0 in regionals to advance to next weekend's NYSPHSAA Team Championships.
Section V Class A2 team champion Pittsford Mendon — which beat Brighton the crossover final — lost its region final to Section VI's Williamsville East 5-2 on Saturday.
Section V girls tennis state qualifiers
Singles
Brighton's Leyla Tozin.
Victor's Emily Miller.
Harley Allendale Columbia's Sophia Carling.
Doubles
Brighton's Ella Hall and Samantha Kotz.
Pittsford Sutherland's Caroline Fitzsimmons and Shushu Wu.
Pittsford Mendon's Aiza Ahmed and Sophie Khan.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V girls tennis players competing in NY state tournament
