After yet another season filled with intense matches and countless hours on the court, three members of the Scarsdale Girls Varsity Tennis Team reached the Section 1 Individual Championships finals, earning their spots at the highly anticipated state championships. Representing Scarsdale were singles player Giana Marks ’25 and the doubles team of Isabel Lin ’27 and Kay Cottrell ’25.
Held from October 28th to 30th at the renowned USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—the site of the U.S. Open—the state championships began with a strong showing from all three players, each winning their first two matches. However, the second day brought tougher challenges. Seventh-seed Giana Marks faced the second seed, pushing her into the 5th-8th place bracket, while Lin and Cottrell encountered setbacks of their own, falling in the doubles semifinals. The final day would decide their placements: Marks fought for 5th place, while Lin and Cottrell competed for 3rd. Especially for Marks and Cottrell, the matches were poignant as the last of their high school careers.
Ultimately, Lin and Cottrell were defeated by the Byram Hills team, the recent Sectionals champions. Yet, the Scarsdale duo’s remarkable run showcased a rare accomplishment in Scarsdale tennis. “I enjoyed playing doubles in the individual tournaments more than singles during the regular season because doubles is more fun and less stressful,” Isabel Lin ’27 said. “Kay and I make a strong team, so I felt less pressure and could play freely.”
Giana Marks found herself in a similar situation after losing the first set convincingly. During the changeover, she knew it was crucial to readjust her strategy in order to win the match.
“My opponent was playing much better than me in the first set. She was hitting winners left and right, a ton of drop shots, and I felt like I was doing sprints back and forth on the court,” the senior admitted. “In the second set, I started to hit very deep in the middle because it took her angles away and also gave me time to recover,” Marks said. However, Marks’ victory did not only come from the physical strategies she employed. Being two years older than her opponent, she had much more experience competing in high-level tournaments and pressure situations.
“I knew she was younger than me, maybe not as mentally strong. I knew I could capitalize on that if I started to really focus on every single point” Marks explained. As it was also her last high school match in her life, Marks made sure to leave no regrets and end her career on a high note. “I’m happy because I fought really hard. I’m not disappointed and have no regrets. I was telling myself that since it was my last match, I might as well leave everything on the court,” Marks expressed.
While Marks closed her high school career with a hard-fought victory, her focus is now turning to the future, where she’ll take her talents to the collegiate level. As she prepares for the challenges and excitement of college tennis, Marks is determined to keep pushing herself to new heights. “I’ll be the youngest on the team so everyone will have more experience and I’ll be able to learn a lot,” Marks stated.
On the other hand, Lin, who is looking ahead to her junior year, is preparing to take on a leadership role as the team’s captain. “I hope to be a good captain and be able to compete in states again next year,” Lin expressed.
The Scarsdale Girls Varsity Tennis Team’s strong performance this season highlights the depth of talent and hard work within the program. With a mix of experienced players and emerging talent, the future of Scarsdale tennis looks promising, and the team is well-positioned for continued success in the years ahead.
