After a 14-2 season last year, the Hazen girls tennis team has a large group of returners and Coach gail Ellis again expects the team to deliver.

“My expectations are always high,” Ellis said in an email, adding that both losses last season came to Kennedy.

Though the team lost several key players, it returns an experienced group led by Misa Takami and Elise Wong, both of whom made the All-League team last season. Last year Takami made it to the top 12 at the state tournament. Wong went undefeated in singles play through the season, but was unable to play in the postseason.

Amy Huynh, Kristy Huynh, Catherine Lin, Kelly Lo, Lilian Mai, Minh Thu Nguyen and Gabbie Solis-Lazenby all also return this year, according to Ellis.

Also joining the team this season is exchange student Valeria Carrillo, whom Ellis expects to figure into the doubles line-up.

“We have a lot of girls returning from last year’s team and a lot of girls who have come up from C team and JV who are seniors this year,” Ellis said. “It’s a really great group of coachable girls, so I’m looking forward to the season to see how they progress.”

The Hazen Highlanders girls tennis team dropped their opening match to Mt, Si on March 19 and were scheduled to play at Sammamish on Tuesday, at Lindbergh on Wednesday and at Evergreen today, Friday.