Alyssa Novoa
Apopka, sophomore
Novoa, who was an All-Area pick as a ninth-grader in 2021, breezed through the regular season and won 17 consecutive singles matches before losing an individual bracket singles semifinal against Kelly Marie Richter of Naples Gulf Coast at the Class 4A state tournament. She edged Lake Mary’s Jessica Maras in a district final tiebreaker after losing to Maras in a district title tiebreaker one year earlier. Novoa and Maras teamed up to win an 18-under USTA doubles tournament at Lake Cane Tennis Center a week after the FHSAA state tournament.
All-Area athletes GABRIELA ALMANZA Lake Nona, freshman
Buzz: Ninth-grader played No. 2 in postseason for a team that was 17-0 in the regular season. She went 14-1 in singles and partnered with Elietta Said to reach the Class 4A individual doubles final.
MARY BOYCE DEATHERAGE Lake Nona, sophomore
Buzz: Area 2021 player of the year went 12-0 in singles. She passed on the FHSAA state tournament and instead went 4-1 in an International Tennis Federation tournament in South Florida.
JESSICA MARAS Lake Mary, junior
Buzz: Repeat All-Area player went 17-3 at No. 1 singles. Losses were tight matches vs. Emily Meng and Novoa (6-4, 4-6, 12-10 tiebreaker) and a state tournament match. 18-1 in doubles with Nyliam Gazze.
EMILY MENG Boone, freshman
Buzz: She was 12-2 in singles, including a 6-4, 7-5 region win vs. Maras. Meng lost a close match to Lake Nona No. 1 Elietta Said and to state 4A state runner-up Ameia Sorey of Miami Palmetto.
REAGAN PARKER
The First Academy, sophomore
Buzz: Led Royals back to 1A state tournament. Lost twice to Deatherage and lost in a state tourney tiebreaker vs. Ella Pogue of Berkeley Prep. She went 11-2 in doubles with her sister, Reese.
ELIETTA SAID Lake Nona, sophomore
Buzz: The Lions newcomer at No. 1 singles won a district title and went 14-1 in singles, losing only to Kayla Wheeler of Port Orange Spruce Creek in a state tournament tiebreaker.