Our annual look at the top Long Island high school boys tennis players for this season, listed in alphabetical order:
Always a fighter on the court, Bohner has developed his footwork and decision-making and now plays at first singles. His strength is mental, seeking out weaknesses in an opponent’s game and attacking it.
Twice selected Newsday All-Long Island for playing on county doubles championship entries, the athletic and crafty Bursztyn could contend for the Suffolk singles title this time. Last season, he was 6-1 in singles and 25-1 in doubles play as half of the state’s third-place finisher.
Leonardo Carmo, left, and Jagger Cohen.
Carmo returns for a second season after earning a Newsday All-Long Island second-team nod a year ago. He is joined by East Hampton transfer Cohen, a power player whose endurance helps him win long points.
The Trojans’ entry at first singles for a fourth consecutive year, Coonerty comes off a junior season where he went 13-1. The 6-1 righthander is committed to play next year at Loyola (Md.).
The righthander has one of the best all-around games in the county and a myriad of different shots to deploy. He was 14-0 in Division 2A match play and will face stiffer competition with Herricks’ promotion to Division 1.
With a strong tactical approach and a keen ability to adjust strategies in the middle of the match, the righthander is a tough draw. Golubenko always played an aggressive style, but his decision-making has become quite refined.
The elder Hidaka boasts unassailable concentration, high skills and a tactician’s mind. The younger Hidaka is on varsity for a second season and plays a quietly strong all-around game. The chemistry? Well, that’s obvious.
Clockwise from top left: Ethan Solop, Teddy Brodlieb, Bryan Volk, Ray Hidaka and Ezra Loewy.
The Vikings’ first and second singles players will team in the county individual championships. Loewy has the big serve and baseline game. Perfiliev is a confident decision-maker who puts points away.
The 6-foot Brazilian’s game combines speed, strength and forehand accuracy in ample amounts. Add in his ability to use spin on his shots and he could be a contender for a county singles title in his first season at Ross.
Top row: Harshith and Shashank Pennabadi. Bottom row: Lohit Madisetty and Jordan Heyman.
It’s a potential powerhouse brother tandem. The elder Pennabadi made the Suffolk semifinals and the state Round of 16 en route to second-team Newsday All-Long Island honors. The younger Pennabadi is a two-time All-Long Island pick for his doubles play, won the county title and finished third in the state last season.
Madisetty, a second-team Newsday All-Long Island selection for his doubles play is joined this season by the strong-serving Heyman. The new guy? He’s an athlete who started for the football and basketball teams.
Not only key contributors to Syosset’s state large school team championship, they teamed to win the Nassau individual doubles title and finish seventh in the state. In singles and doubles combined last season, Shah went 28-3 and Melandro was 23-5.
Ward Melville has a powerhouse this season in part because of Monticciolo’s breakthrough as a singles player. He beats opponents with hard-hit flat ground strokes and a net game that doesn’t allow many second-chance points.
From left: Russell Notaris, Bryan Bin and Nikhil Shah.
Notaris is a Newsday All-Long Island returner. He not only helped the Quakers win the county and Long Island titles but was half of the Nassau doubles finalist. Bin mostly will play singles in team matches but has the great communication skills that lend to doubles play.
Back in high school tennis after a year away, Patel returns with a mature and sophisticated game. The righthander has a big serve but is at his best changing approaches in the middle of a rally.
With quickness and relentlessness, Perez reached the Suffolk singles quarterfinals a year ago and could contend for the county title this season.
Solop is back after a devastating leg injury and has regained his big-game, explosive form. The righthander has improved his hitting pace, decision-making and shot selection to become a contender for the Nassau individual singles title.
Volpe was 12-1 at singles and Stabile 8-4 as the Hurricanes reached the Suffolk quarterfinals. Paired in the individual championships, they were 14-4, reached the county title match and the state quarterfinals.
Giancarlo Volpe, left, and Bobbie Stabile. Credit: Louis Lanzano
Brodlieb earned a Newsday All-Long Island second-team selection last season for his play at doubles. He is now partnered with the 6-5 Tietz, who plays a tactical and precise game.
He earned a reputation as one of the Island’s most resourceful players by rallying from a set down in quarterfinal and semifinal victories to reach the Suffolk title. Volk was 19-4 and reached the Round of 16 at the state championships.
Walia is a four-year starter in singles for Herricks and a master at playing angles. He hits the ball at a high pace and may be at his best in long points. He went 14-0 in match play last season when Herricks was in Division 2A.
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
