LILY HAYWARD begins the season as Benicia’s No. 1 singles player.

Benicia High’s girls tennis team set a high bar or itself last season after winning the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship for the first time in school history. The Lady Panthers return two-thirds of that squad for 2015, making their quest for a second straight SJS title and a third straight unbeaten Solano County Athletic Conference season a realistic possibility.

Head coach Lisa Burton knows Benicia is capable of repeating as champion but is trying to avoid too lofty expectations.

“We’re hoping we can repeat it and go a step further by beating a Division 1 team in the tournament, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on the girls,” Burton said. “This is a different team and there’s a lot in front of them.”

Junior Lily Hayward opens the season as Benicia’s No. 1 singles player. Hayward finished second in the SCAC Singles Tournament last year and her three-hour, three-set victory in No. 2 singles gave Benicia a thrilling 5-4 win over McClatchy to clinch the SJS championship.

“She’s looking good but needs to work on being tougher in close matches,” Burton said.

Sophomore Madeline Beyer returns and has moved up to No. 2 singles. Beyer didn’t play much tennis over the summer, but she is one of Benicia’s most competitive players and is great at reading angles.

“Her power and strength have improved over last season so I can see her doing a lot of great things for us,” Burton said.

Senior Gabriella Traver played doubles last season but is slotted at No. 3 singles this year.

“Her game is good and her power is really hard for everybody to handle,” Burton said. “We just need to get her a little more consistent.”

Veterans Samantha Beyer, Nicole Go and Katie Voss round out the bottom half of the singles ladder. Beyer, a senior, teamed with Michelle Li to win the SCAC doubles title last year. Fellow senior Nicole Go played singles all of last season and Voss, a junior, played No. 1 doubles.

“Nicole’s ground strokes are lower, harder and faster, and even her serve has gotten a little faster,” Burton said. “Katie’s power is great and I’ve seen her beat some strong players. I hoping she can be really steady.”

Sophomore doubles veteran Madison Lammert is pairing with freshman Emily Jewik at No. 1 doubles. Seniors Milagros Esmerode and Angela Jennings will play No. 2 doubles, with sophomores Katie Steinman and Mariah McNally at No. 3 doubles.

Benicia’s season opener is Thursday, Sept. 3 at home against Vanden.

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