DV tennis shines this fall

The Delaware Valley High school girls’ tennis program appears to be clicking on all cylinders thus far this season, having won the vast majority of their matches in September.

This success can be attributed to senior team captains Noelle Holderith and Kate Tamplin.

“This year, our co-captains were voted on by the team,” Head Coach Amy Strickler said. “The girls look at these two girls as strong leaders who always put the team first and have the team’s best interest. They lead by example and have very strong work ethics both on and off the courts.”

Both captains have had impressive tennis careers at Delaware Valley.

“Noelle Holderith plays first singles for us. She will be playing in singles districts and possibly doubles districts for us in the next couple of weeks. Last year Noelle was named to the Lackawanna coach’s all-star team, she was fourth in singles semifinal districts and her and her doubles partner came in second in the finals for our district.

“Kate Tamplin plays first doubles for us,” Strickler added, while also noting her outstanding performance this year. Coach Strickler is impressed with the ways both leaders have continually improved as tennis players.

“Kate has really improved her net play and is much more aggressive at the net. She has worked hard all year to get better placement with the ball and to play more strategically as well,” Strickler said. “Noelle is extremely dedicated to practice. She is the first one on the court and the last one to leave. She has improved her ball placement and she is hitting very strategically this year.”

Most notably, Tamplin and Holderith are outstanding students. They are also always willing to help their teammates in variety of ways as well.

“Noelle is within the top 25 rankings for the Class of 2025,” Strickler said. She is involved with Odyssey of the Mind, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Sources of Strength, Student Athletic Advisory Committee. She has also earned placement on the High Honor Roll and won the Scholar Athlete Award, and AP Scholar with Honors Award. Tamplin is on National Honor Society and is also an AP Scholar.

“They both push each of their teammates to work to the best of their ability. Noelle is good at driving their work ethic and Kate is good at uplifting them and keeping them confident and positive. They really balance each other out.”

The Warriors have many contributors guiding the team toward victory on the court this fall.

“Jessica Willson, Ceanna Williams, Emma Strickler, Michelle Zakharova and Ava Capeci were all of our starters for this season, along with Noelle and Kate,” Strickler said. “They each lead the team in their own way by pushing each other, cheering each other on, giving 110% at practice, and bringing wins home for this team.”