The Hazen girls tennis team is hoping for a break-out season in its first year without the boys.

This year, the Hazen squad has changed its format from a coed team to girls-only for the spring and Coach Gail Ellis said her group “should be the team to beat.”

Ellis said the team has two fourth-year varsity members, Haley Strandberg and Kristal Kozai, to help lead the transition. In addition to their experience and leadership, Ellis expects good things from third-year player Lesley Wong and second-year starters Elise Wong and Ashley Hwang.

In addition, NgocThuy Nguyen, Naima Shaltu and Tina Chung are moving up fro the JV squad and Ellis said newcomers Catherine Ln, Kristy Huynh, Amy Huynh and Kitty Ling are all showing promise.

Ellis said the up and comers should help make up for the loss of Loan Nquyen, last year’s league champion, Samantha McCord, Vivian Chan, Jennifer Diep and others.

Strandberg, Kozai and Lesley Wong all played in last year’s district tournament, though they did not advance past it and Ellis thinks this might be the year to crack into the next level.

“Our top singles and doubles players should have a shot at state and we should be solid all the way through the team during league play,” she said in an email. “I think Hazen should be the team to beat, but several of the other teams in the league always come up with tough competition. That’s why we play the game!”