32 JUNE 2025 By Lucia Sugich Arcadia area tennis teams wrapped up an exciting season marked by resilience, growth, and impressive victories. Whether it was a first-year coach stepping in, a title defense underway, or a program climbing the ranks, Arcadia, Brophy, Veritas, and Xavier each carved out a unique story on the court.  “Gritty, disciplined, and focused” – that’s how Head Coach James Vercellino described the Arcadia boys’ tennis team in his first year at the helm. Adjusting to new systems and practice structures while building a new team identity was a challenge, but one he believes will pay off long-term. “Our goal is to compete, mature, and grow – not just as tennis players, but as ambassadors of our community and future leaders,” Vercellino said. Heading into the final matches in April, the Titans faced tough losses against Saguaro and McClintock, but also notched dominant wins over Buckeye Union, Central High, and Marcos de Niza. They finished the season ranked 5th in Division II. The Lady Titans delivered an exceptional 12-2 season, earning a trip to the State Championships before falling in a hard-fought 0-5 match against powerhouse Catalina Foothills. They finished third in Division II. Coach Dean Lamppa highlighted battles against Gilbert and Notre Dame Prep as defining moments of the season. “Those matches, even the losses, were incredible opportunities for growth,” he said. “We’re excited for what’s next.” “Being part of this team has enriched my life in so many ways. I gained new friends and have only grown closer to those I already knew,” graduate Ahva Ghazanfari said. “I’m so proud of these girls and what we’ve accomplished together. I know I’ll especially miss Arcadia tennis.”  Brophy ranked second in Division I Premier league at season’s end – but that’s not all. The Broncos swept top-seeded Hamilton 5-0 to win their second straight AIA Division I State Championship and a state-record 24th title. With key plays from both seniors and underclassmen, the Broncos avenged an early- season loss to the same school and closed out their year with a 21-4 overall record. “Hamilton is an amazing tennis team,” Head Coach Chris Campbell said. “They were undefeated and region champs until we came along. It served as a bookmark and I am so happy that so many seniors who gave four years to the program can leave as state champs.”  The defending State Champions returned strong. After last year’s narrow 5-4 win over Desert Mountain, Xavier Prep followed up with a dominant 13-1 record. “We’ve learned how to block distractions off the court,” Co-Head Coach Khristen Vanderway said. Ranked first in Division I Premier, the Gators rolled through May’s State tournament with wins over Chaparral, Corona del Sol, and AZ College Prep until the fourth round, where they were bested by Desert Mountain 0-5.  Veritas Prep built something special this season. With a young roster and first-year coach Juan Gomez Vitta, the boys’ and girls’ teams significantly improved against tough competition. “We may not have won every match, but watching our players take sets or push tiebreakers against top teams showed real growth,” Vitta said. “This season was an exciting step forward. Coaching the boys’ and girls’ teams, I saw firsthand how much each player grew in confidence, skill, and teamwork over the course of our 14-match season.” The girls finished with a 5-8 record, while the boys ended the season 2-10 in Division III. A special highlight was the championship tournament, where players Lily and Cate made a strong run as a doubles team, winning two matches before a hard-fought loss in the quarterfinals. “Everyone contributed this season, whether on the court or supporting from the sidelines. What is just as impressive is how well they balanced this commitment with their academics,” Vitta said. “They excelled in the classroom as much as on the court. I am proud of the resilience, integrity, and joy they brought to the game, and I am excited for what is ahead.” Serving aces and chasing titles: 2025 tennis recap By Rachael Bouley As the sun set on spring sports, beach volleyball teams were still shining – making history, smashing records, and serving up fierce competition. From Arcadia High’s first-ever trip to the state finals to Xavier Prep’s dominant playoff run and Veritas Prep’s best season yet, these squads showed that grit, teamwork, and a whole lot of sand can go a long way.  The Titans took their season all the way to the 2025 AIA Beach Volleyball Division II State Championships, ultimately finishing runners-up and ending with a 14-2 team record. “We had a historic season, advancing to the state final for the first time in school history and falling just short to Estrella Foothills 3-2,” Coach Adrian Chang said. Their journey to the title game included an epic win over six-time defending champs Salpointe Catholic, who had not lost in 82 matches dating back to 2019. Arcadia returned most of the varsity lineup from last season, allowing veterans to build on their chemistry. Junior Alexa Helms (last year’s pairs event champion) returned to lead at the ones pair this year and also won Defensive Player of the Year for her section. Returning juniors Priya Jain and Brenna Satran played in the twos and earned a bid to the pairs tournament, finishing ninth overall in the state with First-Team All-Section honors. “We had two dynamo freshmen join us this year. Alitza Turley and Jade Smith played together at the fours and went undefeated all season – 16-0 in match play, 32-0 in sets,” Chang said. “Their enthusiasm was a welcome jolt of energy to push the veteran squad to new heights.” Junior Chloe Herwig and senior Sydney Fouts also impressed as alternates on the playoff lineup, who had to jump in with a new partner during the postseason run. Their positivity and season-saving wins fueled Arcadia’s march toward finals. The Titans showed grit, according to Chang, and always put the team first. They now have their sights set on going one step further next season and bringing home a state title. “One of our greatest strengths this year was our team unity,” Chang said. “Not only were the athletes all very talented, but they were adept at playing with whatever partner they might end up with on the court.”  The Falcons played in the Division II Skyline Conference against schools from around the Valley and fought hard all season long. “We had our best season ever, finishing the spring with a school record eight wins,” Coach Brooks Dockter said. “The support our athletes have for each other really makes this a special group.” With many first or second-year players, strong team chemistry was important to mask some of that inexperience throughout the season. Watching athletes improve was incredibly rewarding for the coach. “Our ones pair, Taylor Nicks and McKenzie Perrault, became our first team to qualify for the state tournament, winning their first-round match,” Dockter said. Six seniors graduated this year, including McKenzie, who signed her letter of intent to play beach volleyball at Concordia University Irvine. The younger Falcons have a chance to step up and lead the way next season, and Dockter feels the future is bright. “Our athletes are the best part of coaching,” he added. “They are incredible people in the classroom and on the court.”  The Gators are ranked second in Arizona after finishing runners-up in the 2025 AIA Beach Volleyball Division I State Championships. They had a fantastic run, riding a 10-match winning streak headed into playoffs, where they won 10 straight sets before a close semi-final matchup. Xavier came back to beat Notre Dame Prep 3-2 to advance to the final, where O’Connor ultimately proved too strong. Both losses came at the hands of the No. 1 ranked Eagles. Overall, the Gators were tough competitors, with an 11-1 regular record and eight 5-0 shutouts in 12 matches. The ones and twos made it to the AIA Division I Pairs State Championship. The unseeded twos pair, juniors Kylie Barr and Emma Robescu, won their first-round match-up vs. Arizona College Prep to advance to round two, which they lost against No. 4 seed Millennium High. Xavier senior Holly Matchinsky and junior Kate MacDonald were seeded third, earning a first-round bye before winning the second round and quarterfinals. It was a close battle against No. 1 seed Notre Dame Prep in the finals, but ultimately, the Gators finished runners-up to close out a great season. Beach volleyball records? No problem for these schools! Brophy’s 2025 State Championship tennis team: Brendan Linstrom, Tyler Woo, Ryan Zerbib, Logan Phillips, Naren Gudavalli, Arin Gupakumar. PHOTO COURTESY OF BROPHY PREP

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