2026 Hockomock League Girls Tennis Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
When it comes to the Kelley-Rex division, the race once again runs through Sharon and Franklin.
Sharon enters the season as the team to beat, continuing its run of dominance in the Hockomock while transitioning into a new era under first-year head coach Jillian Pagliuca — a former standout player at Taunton. Despite a young roster, the Eagles bring back a strong group of returning players and plenty of depth throughout the lineup as they seek their fifth straight division title.
The Eagles will feature a new look at the top with freshman Megan Pinnix stepping into the first singles spot, while sophomore Kat Budovalcev returns to second singles. Senior captains Lila Hogan, Sydney Weiner, and Lillia Precourt all bring vital experience having played in various spots in the starting lineup and give the Eagles a ton of flexibility. Sophomore Anya Shukla, who played plenty of matches at doubles last year as a rookie, is another candidate to play in the singles lineup. Sharon has additional options for the lineup with juniors Heather Hou, Reva Sankhla, Karen Liang, and Ella Chen, alongside sophomores Riley Garte, Katie Eisenstadt, and Hanae Houlihan giving the Eagles flexibility depending on matchups. Freshmen Ella Pinnix, Ekaa Bellary, and Katerina Derevianko add even more depth and could make an immediate impact. With a mix of experience and young talent, Sharon remains in position to contend for another title.
“The team looks forward to competing hard in every match and building a successful season,” Pagliuca said.
Franklin, which finished second in the division last year, has the pieces to challenge once again despite graduating key contributors, including Kelley-Rex MVP Izzy Trull and a doubles team (Brooke Daniels & Sydney Tolonen) that won more than 50 matches. Senior captains Isabelle Simino and Avalon Thomes lead the way, giving the Panthers strong experience at the top of the lineup. Simino is a three-year singles starter with more than 20 career wins, while Thomes brings additional versatility after playing both singles and doubles. Sophomore Anna Powers is back after a 9-2 season as a freshman and will slot into third singles, giving Franklin a strong and experienced trio — and key depth.
The Panthers also have a talented doubles group, highlighted by sophomore Genevieve Camire and freshman Alexa Buliung, who is expected to step in right away. Julianne Love, Lilly Depoto, and Poojan Gaur are all in the mix at second doubles, with additional depth from Chidvilasini Garimella, Arden Meyer, Maya Abi Ramia, and Krithi Rajesh. With a strong returning core and a talented group of underclassmen, Franklin and Sharon are poised to battle for division supremacy for a couple of seasons.
Attleboro is another team that is hoping to make noise this season, using experience at the top of its lineup to push for a spot in the state tournament. Senior captains Alex Houle and Lexi Frackelton both move up a spot in singles after strong seasons last year and will look to build on that success. Shawna Lam steps into first doubles, where she will pair with Lilly Wiese, who has made a significant jump after a strong offseason. The Bombardiers also have flexibility throughout the lineup with Angy Pinto Morales competing for time at both singles and doubles, and a number of players in the mix for second doubles. With strong internal competition and a group that has put in significant offseason work, Attleboro has the potential to be a factor.
After graduating its top three players from last year, King Philip will have a new look in its singles lineup, but there is optimism around a group that has made significant strides in the offseason. Juniors Natalie Collins, Rose Loughlin, and Courtney Lewis are all in the mix for singles spots along with promising freshman Karlie DiFiore, with challenge matches expected to determine the final order. Lewis also provides flexibility as a returning doubles option and could anchor a pairing if she slots out of singles, while senior captains Taylor Gabriella and Rivya Shrivastava bring experience and leadership to the doubles lineup. Sophomores Alexandra Hickey, Brooke Haltom, and Patti Neelon, along with freshman Hiya Valia, give the Warriors additional depth and competition for spots.
“We are looking forward to getting into our matches and excited to see what our team, with seven new players on the roster combined with 11 returning girls, will bring to the courts,” said co-coaches Bob Goldberg and Kristen Schneider. “We like what we see at practice and feel we have a good chance to be competitive in the Hock and Kelley-Rex this season.”
Milford enters the season with a new-look lineup after graduating nine seniors but still has key pieces to build around. Senior captain Chloe Murdock steps into the first singles role and has already made an impact early in the season. Junior Catie Delaney and sophomore Rupinika Golla will both see time in singles after gaining experience in doubles last year, while senior Maggy Zou adds another option in the lineup. The Scarlet Hawks will also rely on a talented freshman group, including Ella Knapp, Rose Asong, Riley Wright, and Leah Prevelige, who are expected to contribute in doubles.
“This will be a big rebuilding year for us but I have a lot of confidence in this group of girls,” said Milford head coach Julie Rabinovitz. “They all have such a strong drive to succeed and I think that will help us be competitive in many matches as the season progresses.”
Stoughton is coming off its first tournament appearance since 1990 and will look to build on that momentum with a veteran group leading the way. Senior captain Jacqueline Boutros returns to first singles after a strong season and will be one of the top individual players in the league, while fellow captain Olivia Henderson moves up to second singles after competing in doubles last year. Sophomore Thynami Tang Vo steps into third singles and gives the Black Knights another capable option in the lineup. In doubles, senior captains Makaila Graffeo and Yashica Malik form an experienced first doubles pairing, while Coline Fajarillo and Victoria Boutros are expected to handle second doubles. With a mix of returning experience and improving underclassmen, Stoughton will look to continue its upward trajectory.
“With a mix of seasoned veterans and many promising sophomores, the team is focused on surpassing last season’s accomplishments,” said head coach Patty Bangs. “As the season unfolds, the roster may see changes, with more competition and improvement within the team.”
Oliver Ames features one of the more intriguing lineups in the league with a mix of experienced returners and versatile players. Junior Ada Visnauskis will take on a new challenge this spring as she steps into the top singles spot after playing doubles the past two seasons, while Kathryn Weiler returns at second singles with multiple years of varsity experience. Freshman Addie Stebbins is expected to contribute in both singles and doubles, giving the Tigers flexibility throughout the lineup. Ellie Spillane and Mia Zachos are both returning players who will factor into singles and doubles roles, while senior co-captain Ali Querzoli anchors the doubles group. OA has strong depth with juniors Ava Clark, Sophie Deschenes, Hannah Le, Maddie Maczko, and Anna Sierra all competing for time in the doubles lineup.
“We are very excited about this coming tennis season,” said OA co-head coaches Melissa Spillane and Danielle Erickson. “This is our 14th year as co-coaches, and we couldn’t be more proud of the girls on our team.”
