One year ago, the Lackawanna League dominated the state in girls’ tennis.
Now, the talented players will try to run it back.
Montrose senior Cara Evans is the defending PIAA Class 2A singles champion. Scranton Prep’s Lily Lengyel was a PIAA Class 2A doubles champion. Scranton Prep won its second PIAA Class 2A championship in three seasons.
It appears the winning will continue.
“I am excited for my senior season,” Cara Evans said. “We have a wonderful group of girls. It is going to be a great season, and we want to try to get to a District 2 final as a team. I know the favorites are Scranton Prep and Wyoming Seminary. We are going to do so well, and I am excited to see what we are going to do.”
Overall, with Lengyel leading the way and its depth, Scranton Prep gained the favorite’s role in the newly aligned Division I.
Abington Heights, traditionally the top contender to the Classics, and North Pocono will have strong teams. The division also includes Delaware Valley, Holy Cross, Valley View, and Wallenpaupack.
“Winning state championships means so much to me,” Lengyel said. “It shows all of the hard work that we put in. Every day is a new day, and I am going to do everything that I can to be the best that I can be.”
Montrose, led by Cara Evans and her sister Anna Evans, is the overwhelming favorite to win Division II. Honesdale, West Scranton, and Scranton will contend. Dunmore, Mid Valley, Riverside, and Western Wayne are also members of Division II.
“We have been practicing since July, and we are hoping to win a District 2 medal as a team,” Anna Evans said. “We have a great group of girls. I am just going to try to win every match that I can.”
Starting at the top, Cara Evans is entering the final year of a brilliant career.
A powerful and highly skilled player, the 5-foot-9 Cara Evans finished 24-0 in 2025, giving her a 60-3 career record at No. 1 singles. She is ranked as a four-star prospect by tennisrecruiting.net.
“Just playing next to my sister and my cousin, Eislee (Giannone), who is a freshman on the team, is going to make it a great season,” Cara Evans said. “I am looking forward to spending time with them and all of my teammates and enjoying every moment.
“I’ve still been getting lessons, doing clinics, and working on my strength and conditioning, my visualization, and focusing on positive things. I am going to work hard to get to where I was last year.”
Anna Evans is a solid No. 2 singles player, with the talent to carry the torch after her sister graduates. She finished 17-3 last season and reached the District 2 Class 2A singles semifinals and the doubles final with teammate Erin Tillotson.
Erin Tillotson, a Lackawanna League Class 2A all-star, also returns for the Lady Meteors, giving the team the most successful and experienced starting lineup among the Division II programs.
Three other players – Anna Tillotson, Olivia Schell, and Ava Booth – have starting experience in doubles.
“Because Cara is a state champion, I am getting a lot of work in,” Anna Evans said. “She is teaching me new things. Because we have different playing styles, I think that I have also benefited her.”
Scranton Prep’s Lengyel is widely considered the second-best Class 2A player in the state. Unfortunately, only the District 2 champion qualifies for the state tournament.
She finished 23-2 last season, with both defeats coming against Cara Evans. Her career record is 68-9, and she is a three-time All-Region selection.
Her teammate and fellow team captain, Hannah LaCoe, held down the No. 3 singles spot last season. She was a Lackawanna League Class 2A all-star.
Scranton Prep also returns Grace James, Donatella DeNaples, and Adithi Velega.
“I am really excited to be playing with my teammate Hannah (LaCoe),” Lengyel said. “My goal is to work as hard as I can every day and play my best tennis. I want to make sure that my whole team is playing our best and working to be the best that they can be.”
Abington Heights, last season’s District 2 Class 3A champion, will also have an all-star singles lineup. Amishi Amit is a returning All-Region player who had an 18-4 record as a junior at No. 2 singles. She reached the District 2 Class 3A final, where she finished second to teammate Sona Hanumali.
In addition, Amit teamed with Sammy Rosenstein to win the District 2 Class 3A doubles title. Rosenstein, a Lackawanna League Class 3A all-star at No. 3 singles in 2025, returns.
Katherine Arp is also back for Abington Heights.
“I am very excited to start playing in my last year,” Amit said. “I want to make every game count. I have improved. We will take things one match at a time and fight hard for each of our wins.”
North Pocono’s Anna Clementoni (8-8) is a returning Lackawanna League Class 3A all-star, and Honesdale’s Alexis Mazzotta (7-7) returns as a Class 2A all-star.
TIMES-TRIBUNE (JOBY FAWCETT / STAFF GRAPHIC)
TIMES-TRIBUNE (JOBY FAWCETT / STAFF GRAPHIC)