The Northville Girls Tennis team made history at the State Championship on May 30 and 31 in Byron Center, capturing the state title for the first time since 2018. After an intense two-day competition, the Mustangs finished with 23 points, edging out Utica Eisenhower to secure the championship.
Heading into the tournament ranked fifth and considered underdogs, Northville opened day one in a three-way tie for first place with 17 points, sending five of their eight flights into Saturday’s semifinals. What followed was a display of resilience, determination, and team unity that propelled them to the top.
In singles play, Sophia DiPilla (1 singles) and Talia Nishanian (2 singles) each reached the second round. Emmi Dober (3 singles) battled her way to the finals, while Michelle Lee (4 singles) advanced to the semifinals.
In doubles, Jordan Murphy and Grace Xu (1 doubles) reached the second round. Aadya Pullalarevu and Lucia Lachapelle (2 doubles) fought hard to finish as finalists, highlighted by a dramatic semifinal win over Novi — a team that had previously defeated them in both conference and regional play. Emma Murphy and Sophie Ong (3 doubles) delivered an outstanding performance, defeating both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds to earn the state champion title. Francine Ong and Sravya Doppalapudi (4 doubles) added to the excitement by overcoming a 1-5 deficit in the third set of their finals match against Novi, winning six straight games to clinch their own state championship.
“We were the underdogs going into the tournament, but our team showed tremendous mental toughness, stayed composed in high-pressure moments, and executed when it mattered most!” said Head Coach Brenda Lionas. “This team has poured their hearts into this season and to take home a state title is a true testament to all that hard work. Anything is possible when you believe in yourself and each other.”
Despite not winning conference or regional titles earlier in the season, the Mustangs peaked at the perfect time. “Winning the championship means everything,” Lionas added. “We knew we had to stay focused and play smart tennis. Even though we went in ranked fifth, we believed and saw ourselves winning it.”
Coach Lionas praised the team's growth throughout the season, highlighting their chemistry, resilience, and ability to embrace the journey. "Beyond the scores, this tournament showed the heart of this team and how they all rallied behind each other," she said. "Throughout the season, we saw doubt turn into confidence, vulnerability turn into resiliency, and fear turn into courage."
The Northville Girls Tennis team's state title run is a story of grit, belief, and teamwork—a remarkable finish to a season they’ll never forget.
