Southwest Wake Athletic Conference girls tennis preview, 2016

Panther Creek has been dominant during its three-year reign as state 4A girls tennis champs and enters this year on a 46-match winning streak.

The Catamounts (21-0, 15-0*) will be rebuilding somewhat as four-time 4A doubles champions Sammi Smith and Jordan Strickland have graduated. Also gone from the lineup is Orla LaBiche.

State singles semifinalist Amanda Cyr – who was also the SWAC singles champion – leads the returning three, and Aishani Tingare and Melody Zhang are also back.

Green Hope (20-3, 14-2), which reached the final four for the fourth straight year, loses three experienced seniors but returns Ana Horvat (state singles qualifier), Adithi Rao and state doubles qualifiers Cynthia Xio and Sophia Gray .

Apex (12-5, 12-4) brings back four of its top six: Natalie Melech, Elizabeth Johnson (one-half of a doubles qualfiying duo), Sloan Smith and Sarah Martin. The Cougars earned a wild-card bid to the postseason last year.

Athens Drive (10-6, 10-6) took fourth last year and returns its top two: Kristen Smedley and Katherine Clapp.

Jenna Stachowiak (state qualifier) is back at No. 1 singles for Middle Creek (7-8, 7-8) and Hannah Ryninger is back as well.

Holly Springs (6-10, 5-9*) will be led by returners Stephanie Charlino and Peyton Davis.

Aysha Diallo, Anna Braxton and Adelle Schubarg are back for Fuquay-Varina (5-12, 4-12).

Between Apex Friendship (1-15, 1-14) and Cary (1-16, 1-14), only one player graduated. Cary returns Jennifer Flippin and Amanda DeMarte while Friendship brings back Hannah Dilday and everyone else.

Note: not all teams reached 16 league matches.

This story was originally published July 31, 2016 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Southwest Wake Athletic Conference girls tennis preview, 2016."