Greenhills Girls Tennis Returns with Talent, Chemistry, and Championship Goals
A year after winning the state championship, the Greenhills varsity girls tennis team is back on the court, and arguably stronger than ever. With nearly every starter returning and an infusion of young talent, expectations for this season are sky-high. Head Coach Mark Randolph, now in his 29th year leading the program, isn’t shy about what’s possible.
“In terms of raw talent, this might be the most impressive group we’ve ever had,” Randolph said. “Top to bottom, it’s just a deep, experienced team.”
The team’s early-season momentum was boosted by an unusually cooperative Michigan spring. Warm, dry weather allowed the Gryphons to hold competitive challenge matches right away, fast-tracking the process of setting the final lineup—a luxury in the unpredictable spring season.
Leading the charge are Maddie Morgan ’25 and Ellie Kim ’27, two college prospects anchoring the top singles spots. They’re joined by standout ninth-grader Hazel Morgan, Maddie’s younger sister, whose presence allows for strategic flexibility as the team shifts some players from singles to doubles and vice versa.
“This year we’re working to build chemistry among doubles pairs and get our singles players battle-tested,” Randolph said. “That only happens by playing strong opponents, and thankfully, our schedule gives us that chance.”
The Gryphons are no longer the underdogs in the Catholic League; they’re a force. Matches against Mercy, Marian, and Cranbrook are circled on the calendar. They aren’t afraid to play up, either, and the Gryphons have already earned wins against Division 1 teams like Ann Arbor Huron (7-1), Dexter (8-0), and Chelsea (8-0). The team is currently undefeated after six matches and won its first tournament of the season last weekend, April 19.
Even with the target on its back, this group is thriving on and off the court.
“Sometimes when you have this much talent, you worry about cohesion,” said Randolph. “But these kids really want to be together. We call them the ‘16 sisters.’ They’re tight. They miss each other when we’re rained out. They’d rather be practicing together than playing solo somewhere else. That’s rare.”
The team’s culture is no accident. Randolph credits longtime assistant coach Leigh Formicola, JV coach Sally DeLange, and his wife and middle school tennis coach Becky Randolph for helping build the supportive environment that has kept athletes committed to Greenhills.
That includes players like Jessica Lou, a sophomore who worked her way into the top 16 for the first time; Jessica Shi, a senior who’s steady presence has been heartening to varsity lineup; and returning doubles state champions Arya Prabhakar ’26 and Aoife Tang ’26, who continue to elevate the team.
There’s also history in the making: Senior Shangyang Xia could become the first Greenhills athlete to win four individual state titles. Dani Dennis ’26, meanwhile, has yet to lose a high school match.
“These seniors are rewriting the Greenhills record books,” said Randolph. “And I just keep reminding myself—and them—how special that is. Seasons like this don’t happen every year.”
