Grosse Pointe – Grosse Pointe South continued their girls tennis dominance this season powering past three of the best teams in the state to win their quad meet on May 10.

   The Grosse Pointe South Quad featured four state championship contenders: Division 3 No. 1-ranked Cranbrook Kingswood, Division 3 No. 2-ranked Detroit Country Day, and defending Division 1 state champion and No. 8-ranked Ann Arbor Huron. Country Day has won the Division 4 state championship the past four years and moves up to Division 3 this year. Each team features some of the most talented players in the state.

   South easily beat all three teams during the quad to run away with the overall win and remain unbeaten on the season.

   "The girls were fired up to play and have played up to their potential all season," said Head Coach Mark Sobieralski.

   Many in the tennis community feel this is South's year to return to the top spot in the state.

   The Blue Devils will have to contend with Huron , 2005 champion and 2006 runner-up Ann Arbor Pioneer (ranked at No. 3), No. 3-ranked Traverse City Central, No. 4-ranked Novi, and a young but talented West Bloomfield squad (currently ranked at No. 5) for the championship.

   South has come close to winning the championship throughout the decade, finishing fourth in 2006, second in 2005 and 2002, third in 2004 and 2003, and fifth in 2001 and 2000. The Blue Devils last won the Class A Championship in 1986, completing a state record 11 straight titles from 1976. South also holds the state record for most regional championships with 28.

   South's already powerful lineup was bolstered by the addition of the Chupa sisters (senior Angela, sophomore Mary, and freshman Carolyn). The Chupas moved back to Grosse Pointe after spending the past four years in Florida honing their tennis skills. They spent the past three years training at the prestigious St. Petersburg Tennis Center after spending a year at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

   The Chupas play in the top three spots in the singles lineup. Junior Sarah VanWalleghem is the No. 4 singles player for the team.

   The addition of the Chupas has made the South lineup incredibly deep with all players in contention for individual state championships.

   The doubles lineup is lead by senior co-captains Melanie Capuano and Mary-Kate Hayden. Capuano moved from the No. 1 singles position after earning all-state honors last season and plans to study pre-med at Michigan State. Hayden and junior Elizabeth Hyde both earned all-state honors in doubles last season. Hayden will attend Michigan to study nursing.

   Hyde plays with Victoria Grams. Senior Kate Brennan and freshman Julie Wittwer are the No. 3 doubles team. Senior Molly Lynch and junior Stephanie Skau are the No. 4 doubles squad.

Emily Lynch, Carla Schmidt, and Alana Dickson round out the doubles players

   The Blue Devils host their Michigan High School Athletic Association Regional on May 16 and should have no trouble advancing to the Division 1 state tournament at the Midland Tennis Center on May 30 and 31.

   "The girls are thriving and playing very good tennis," Sobieralski said. "They have risen to the occasion against all of the teams on our schedule. They're ready to play each match."