The Wallkill girls’ tennis team had won the Mid Hudson Athletic League large school championship for two straight seasons, but that defense is in danger this year as the Panthers opened the season with three straight league losses.

The Panthers have lost Sydney Scannell, Patrice DeLices, Hannah Rubenstein, Marissa Dougherty, Mia Gigliuto and Lauren DeStefano. Overall, the Panthers have lost five of the seven players from last year.

However, the Panthers have many returning players to fill the top seven, including: Arianna Jorge-Martinez, Zacharia Williams, Vanity Nieves-Cook, Anna O’Brien, Amy O’Malley, Denise Martinez, Miranda Padilla and Bianca Ramos.

Katelynn Krupp is a newcomer that Wallkill coach Jennifer Gravelle said should be “exciting to watch.” Other newcomers include Caitlyn Dougherty, Marilyn Peleaz, Carly Wohlrab, Finn Superville, Mikayla Carson, Xiorah Hererra, Jazzlynn Ramos, Elle Fragetta, Adrienne Silvestris, Emma Forester, Sanahj Newkirk and Sandra Benitez.

Jorge-Martinez, who expects to play at first singles, has put in a lot of time in the offseason to earn her spot.

In Orange County, the Valley Central Vikings are looking to rebound from last year’s 5-6 record but will have to move forward after losing seven seniors: Talia Wutz, Taylor Froehlich, Sophie Carsley, Christina Faso, Liz Pepaj, Gabby Terralavora and Angeline Vargas.

“I lost seven seniors who were all on the team for several years, so I am looking to rebuild Valley Central’s tennis program,” Valley Central coach Kayleigh Guercio said.

However, the seventh-year coach said she is excited for the season, which has seen the Vikings open with a 2-3 record. They’ve posted non-league wins over James I. O’Neil and Port Jervis.

Returning for the Vikings are Autumn Strobach, Megan Mann, Madison Sherry, Abby Wilson and newcomers Leah Vetro, Serena Huang, Marley Eagan, Grace Byrne, Maddy Camacho-Gillespie, Hailey Plamer, Isabella Carrasco and Ashley Miller.

Pine Bush opened the season, losing two of their first three matches.

They posted their first win of the season on September 12, 6-1, over the Minisink Valley Warriors.