The Northmont High School girls tennis teams delivered outstanding performances at the 2025 Division I Sectional Tournament held at Troy High School, showcasing the depth and talent of our tennis program across both singles and doubles competition.

Doubles Excellence on Display:
Northmont's doubles teams made a significant impact throughout the tournament brackets, with all three pairs advancing through multiple rounds and demonstrating the competitive spirit that defines our program.

Eden Scott and Alysha Hopson started strong in their opening match, defeating Randall/Hopson from Stebbins with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory. However, their tournament run ended in the second round against the eventual district qualifiers, #1 seeded Lutz/Romberger from Troy, who defeated them 6-0, 6-1. Despite the loss, competing against the top seed demonstrates the high level of competition Eden and Alysha reached.

Leah Bergjord and Madison Evans delivered one of the tournament's most impressive performances, completely dominating their first-round match against Springfield's Lorenson/Gulvas with a decisive 6-0, 6-2 victory. Their exceptional run continued into the second round where they faced #3 seeded Becker/Mullins from Fairborn. Though they ultimately fell 6-2, 6-4, their ability to reach the second round and compete closely with a seeded team showcased their skill and determination.

Bayla Bucciarelli and Sol Malanda started their day off with a dominating win over Springfield's team of Hensel/Kukharchuk with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Their remarkable tournament run continued in the second round with a dramatic three-set comeback victory over Greenville's Francis/Horn. After dropping the first set 5-7, they rallied magnificently to win 6-0, 6-0 in the final two sets—a testament to their resilience and never-give-up attitude. Unfortunately, their impressive run ended in the third round against the #2 seeded team Elizabeth Koeweler and Ashton Kennedy from Butler, losing 6-3, 6-4. Reaching the third round represents an outstanding achievement and demonstrates the exceptional talent and determination of this sophomore duo.

Singles Excellence:
Samantha Cecil delivered an outstanding performance in the highly competitive singles draw, showcasing the fighting spirit and determination that exemplifies Northmont tennis. In what proved to be a thrilling match, Samantha demonstrated remarkable resilience and mental toughness. After winning the first set 6-3, she found herself down 4-6 in the second set. Rather than fold under pressure, Samantha dug deep and forced a decisive third set, ultimately prevailing 7-5 (8-6) in an extended tiebreaker that showcased her competitive heart and refusal to give up.This dramatic first-round victory advanced Samantha to the second round, where she faced the tournament's #1 seed, Sammy Russell, a senior from Tecumseh. While Samantha fell to the eventual district qualifier 6-0, 6-0, her ability to reach the second round as an underclassman and compete against the top seed represents a significant achievement.

Program Strength and Future Outlook:
The success of our tennis teams at sectionals reflects the excellent resiliency, dedication, and hard work that characterizes Northmont athletics. Particularly impressive was the deep tournament run by Bayla Bucciarelli and Sol Malanda, who advanced to the third round—a remarkable achievement that highlights the strength of our program.

With multiple underclassmen contributing significantly—including sophomores Eden Scott, Leah Bergjord, Bayla Bucciarelli, and Samantha Cecil—the foundation is set for continued success in future seasons. The variety of victories achieved by our doubles teams, from dominant straight-set wins to dramatic comeback victories and deep tournament runs, showcases the different strengths and competitive approaches within our program.

This depth and versatility, combined with the experience gained from competing against top-seeded teams, advancing through multiple rounds, and facing challenging competition as underclassmen, will serve our teams well as they continue to develop and compete at the highest levels.

Congratulations to all our student-athletes, coaches, and families for their commitment to excellence and for representing Northmont High School with pride and distinction at the 2025 Division I Sectional Tournament!