Depth appears to be a strength for the Newtown High School girls’ tennis team as the Nighthawks begin another spring of serves and volleys on the courts.

Newtown has 20 players in the fold. Seniors Madi Singlak, Caitlin Briggs, Olivia Guizzo, Molly Lyddy, Kristen Reisert, and Erin Marshall all return, and senior Joey Libero is back having last played with the Nighthawks as a sophomore. There will not be captains but all of the seniors will have leadership roles.

“With seven amazing seniors, I felt like they are all leaders, good players, and the nicest young women. They will all be leading the team in many different ways,” Coach Maureen Maher said.

Among Newtown’s strongest players are sophomores Willow Assante-Labash and Isabelle Montoya, along with freshman Nadia Andrew, Maher and Assistant Coach Nancy Anderson anticipate. Assante-LaBash and Andrew are highly-ranked players who bring with them a huge amount of tournament experience outside of the high school season, Anderson notes.

Anderson expects these players will take the team to another level against Newtown’s main rivals Weston and Joel Barlow of Redding. The NHS coaches anticipate the Nighthawks being a strong competitor in the South-West Conference this year.

The Nighthawks began the campaign Tuesday, April 4, at home against Immaculate of Danbury and won 7-0. Assante-LaBash and Andrew both won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively. Singlak won 6-4, 6-2 and Sophia Dutsar prevailed 6-1, 6-0 in third and fourth singles play.

In doubles action, Reisert and Briggs joined forces to win 6-0, 6-1 in the top spot; Montoya and Margaret Donovan won 6-2, 6-1; and Guizzo and Marshall came out on top 6-1, 6-0.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.