Girls Tennis Claims League and Regional Championships on the Way to States

For the Greenhills girls tennis team, the past two weeks have felt less like a breakthrough and more like the arrival of something hard earned and long in the making. On May 9, the Gryphons won the Catholic High School League (CHSL) Bishop Division championship—the first league title in program history, which it split with perennial power Farmington Hills Mercy. Four days later, the team followed it up with a regional championship performance so dominant it bordered on historic: Greenhills won every single flight, earning a perfect 24 out of 24 possible points against one of the strongest regional fields in the state.

Now, the Gryphons head to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state finals May 27–28 at the Midland Tennis Center carrying both momentum and perspective.

“We did a lot of building this year,” head coach Mark Randolph said. “We had a whole bunch of ninth graders who were very capable, but they had to learn what this program really is. The winning is wonderful, but the more important question is: are you competing as a real team?”

That question has shaped one of the most successful seasons in school history. According to Randolph, it means being part of a community where players trust each other, are willing to sacrifice for each other, and they dig deeper because they know their teammates would do the same for them.

The CHSL championship showcased that sense of community, as well as the team’s talent and resilience. Freshmen Faith Miller and Jahan Soofi battled their way into finals appearances. Sophomore Hazel Morgan stormed through the No. 2 singles bracket, surrendering just one game all day. Senior captains Dani Rakic-Dennis and Lauren Ye were equally commanding at doubles, also dropping only one game en route to a championship.

Then came the moment that sealed the title. Junior Nina Malani rallied from a set down in the No. 1 singles championship match, saving a championship point before winning a dramatic 12–10 match tiebreaker that wrestled a share of the league title away from Mercy and into Greenhills’ hands.

Randolph believes the team’s strength starts at the top of the lineup.

“Having Nina Malani and Hazel Morgan at one singles and two singles is really a blessing for this program,” he said.

But the story of this team extends well beyond wins and trophies. Randolph often talks with players about what it means to build a genuine team culture—one rooted not in convenience, but in sacrifice, accountability, and care for one another. That culture is something veteran players pass on to their younger teammates and reinforce each year, and it has been crucial in helping a young roster navigate miserable spring weather, schedule disruptions, and the pressure of high expectations.

“The ability to perform within our program is more important than the winning,” Randolph said. “The winning is ancillary. It’s what precipitates out if you’re fortunate. What matters is whether you’re living the commitments you’ve made to one another.”

That culture, he says, shows up in the details. After winning the Catholic League championship, Greenhills players stayed behind to clean their area and thank tournament directors and staff—a gesture Randolph noted few other teams made.

“It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it,” he said. “We believe tennis is a gift we give to one another, and the people who organize these tournaments are giving us a gift too. These kids understand that.”

The regional championship may have been the clearest sign yet of how fully this group has come together. Facing deep and experienced competition from programs like Father Gabriel Richard, Wixom St. Catherine, and Academy of the Sacred Heart, the Gryphons remained poised and focused throughout a cold, demanding day of tennis.

“What impressed me most,” said Randolph, “was how tough the kids were mentally. A lot of these players are 9th and 10th graders getting their first real experience as competitive varsity players.”

The team’s senior leadership has helped steady that process. Randolph praised Rakic-Dennis and Ye for the standard they have set, noting that Rakic-Dennis has lost only a handful of matches during her entire high school career.

“They’ve been tremendous seniors,” he said.

Now comes the final challenge: the state tournament.

Randolph knows the competition awaiting in Midland will be fierce. The margins will be small and the atmosphere will be intense, but he believes the Gryphons are prepared for it. That confidence doesn’t come from how his athletes play, but because of who they have become together over the course of the season.

“You’ve got to have poise,” he said. “You’ve got to believe in what you’re doing, and you’ve got to be able to play with joy.”