The 2021 Providence Journal All-State First- and Second-Team selections for girls tennis are here
After a terrific fall season, here is the 2021 Providence Journal All-State Girls Tennis First and Second teams. The twelve players selected to the first team will be nominees for Player of the Year at this spring's Rhode Island High School Sports Awards. Three finalists will be named at the live show, followed by the announcement of Player of the Year.
Nominees will be honored at the live show and all the nominees can receive a free ticket to the show. Check back later in the year for information on how to RSVP to the show.
The All-State Rhode Island High School Sports Awards, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
More: Here's the RI Girls Tennis Coaches selections for their All-State and All-Division teams
First team
Singles
Erica Botelho
Smithfield, Senior
A two-time, second-team All-State selection, Botelho makes her debut on the first team after a fantastic senior season. She was the top player in the Sentinels order and had her best performance at the RIIL singles championship, advancing to the quarterfinals before falling to fellow All-Stater Kate Robertson.
Bridget Casey
La Salle, Sophomore
In her first year playing singles for the Rams, Casey did not disappoint. The sophomore was a lock for wins all season long and in her first RIIL single championship, in which she was the No. 12 seed from Division I, her upset victory in the round of 16 sent her to the quarterfinals, where she lost to teammate Erin McCusker.
Kylie Eaton
Moses Brown, Junior
One of six newcomers to the All-State first team and one of three first-teamers who previously had not made either the first or second teams, Eaton was spectacular atop the Quakers’ order. She earned herself the No. 4 seed from Division I and showed why in the RIIL singles championship, sweeping her first two matches before winning a thrilling three-setter in the quarterfinals. Her run ended in the semis to state runner-up Maddie Omicioli.
Erin McCusker
La Salle, Senior
McCusker’s final season couldn’t have gone any better. After deep RIIL singles tournament runs in her first three seasons, McCusker put it all together in her final tourney at Slater. She cruised to the final, dropping only four games in four matches, before taking down East Greenwich’s Maddie Omicioli to claim the title and more than earn her spot as a four-time, first-team All-Stater.
Maddie Omicioli
East Greenwich, Senior
She started her career for the Avengers as a No. 2 singles player and ended as one of the best players in program history. After winning the state singles championship last year, Omicioli entered the season with plenty of pressure but didn’t let it bother her. She advanced to her third straight RIIL singles championship match and, while she lost, that did not tarnish an amazing career that saw her earn three first-team All-State spots.
Zeah Pivorunas
Wheeler, Senior
The Warriors’ senior had blossomed during her junior year and earned herself a second-team All-State spot, then got even better in her final season at Wheeler. Pivorunas, who played at No. 2 behind All-State teammate Miranda Ye, was a force in the lineup and played well at the RIIL state singles championship, winning her first match before falling to fellow All-Stater Bridget Casey.
Kate Robertson
Barrington, Senior
Another year on the court, another terrific season for the Eagles’ superstar. After her performance this season, Robertson earned her third straight spot as a first-team All-Stater and a four-time All-Stater after making the second team as a freshman. This season, Robertson earned the No. 3 seed in the RIIL singles championship, where she cruised to the semis before falling to eventual champ Erin McCusker.
Maya Stepic
La Salle, Senior
This year marks Stepic’s first appearance as a first-team All-State singles player but it’s not her first appearance as a first-team All-Stater. After winning the doubles championship last fall, Stepic moved to singles for her senior season and did not disappoint. The No. 8 seed from Division I, Stepic won her first two matches in the RIIL singles tournament before being eliminated by finalist Maddie Omicioli.
Georgia Wood
East Greenwich, Senior
Wood would be a top singles player on most teams but with state finalist Maddie Omicioli also on the team, she had to settle for being one of the best No. 2 singles players in the state. Wood was the No. 13 seed from Division I and won her first match at the RIIL singles championship before falling to All-Stater Kate Robertson in the quarterfinals.
Miranda Ye
Wheeler, Junior
As each year passes, Ye just keeps getting better and better. She was a first-team selection as a freshman, earned the same spot as a sophomore and left no doubt in her junior season. Ye was the No. 5 seed in the RIIL singles championship and backed it up, winning her first two matches in the tournament before falling in a thrilling three-setter to Moses Brown’s Kylie Eaton.
Doubles
Katie Byon
Barrington, Junior
Ava Koczera-Kasem
Barrington, Freshman
The pair of Eagles wasn’t supposed to be in the final, never mind win it. Then they won their first match of the RIIL doubles championship, upset the No. 2 team in the tournament, won their semifinal and played the match of their lives in the final against the tournament’s top seed. It’s the first All-State appearance for both players and after their 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 comeback win in the doubles final, it's one they’ll never forget.
Second team
Singles
Geneva Brown, Lincoln School, Junior
Marie Chanfrau, Barrington, Senior
Grace Cummiskey, South Kingstown, Sophomore
Arianna DeThomas, La Salle, Sophomore
Emma DiPardo, Lincoln, Sophomore
Tianna-Lee Keovongvichit, West Warwick, Senior
Meaghan Mancini, Prout, Senior
Talus Nightingale, Portsmouth, Sophomore
Alexis Poluvatzick, Cumberland, Freshman
Elsa White, Mt. Hope, Sophomore
Doubles
Giuliana Ialongo, La Salle, Sophomore
Lindsey Frisina, La Salle, Senior
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Here is the 2021 ProJo All-State Girls Tennis first and second teams
