For the past three years, the top of the Mid Hudson League has been dominated by Marlboro’s Samantha Jaros.

She’s since graduated, but that leaves room for Sydney Sladicka to ascend. She’s the top returner for a Marlboro team that ran a 9-1 record last season. Sladicka is a four-year player in the program, and as a senior she will lead the Dukes at first singles for her senior year.

Sladicka has been undefeated for the entire duration of her career as a singles player. She played third singles as a freshman and played at second singles during her sophomore and junior years.

Sladicka is aiming to win first place in the MHAL tournament and win a seed at the Section 9 tournament with an eye toward qualifying for the New York State Federation championship meet.

She will be joined by what seventh-year coach Scott Hisel referred to as “coachable” sophomores and freshmen.

“This year, like every, is getting the higher skilled athletes a longer postseason than the previous season, and for the newcomers to find joy in the sport to want to return,” Hisel said.

The Highland Huskies have lost four seniors from last year’s team, one of whom was in their top seven. All three singles players return, as does the first doubles team. The Huskies are looking to improve on last year’s 5-4-1 record.

Returning are Lena Tran, Ella Fuller and Ari Sullivan. New to the team are three seniors and one sophomore.

“My goal is to have all three singles and both doubles teams make the MHAL (tournament),” fifth-year coach Mike Geller said.