GUILDERLAND CENTER - Guilderland's grind to reach the top of the Section 2 Class AA girls' tennis hierarchy proved to be a methodical push up from the middle of the pack.
But longtime Lady Dutch Coach Deb Murray had an inkling heading into this fall that her 2026 squad was ready to break through.
"I knew that this would be the year to do it if we were going to make it happen," Murray said. "I have five seniors that have been with me since they were 11 and 12 years old. It is an exceptional group. They have been committed to the game and with me on the varsity. They play in the seven main positions. Last year, we were good. We beat Saratoga Springs during the regular season and lost to them in the final."
Guilderland not only edged Shaker 5-4 for the sectional title, but has since won two more matches to advance to the Division I state semifinals Friday at the United States Tennis Association's Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing. Guilderland faces Section 1 champion Horace Greeley at 9:30 a.m. If the Section 2 champion prevails, it would compete in the title match in the afternoon.
"I have been waiting for something like this since I joined the team," said senior Angela Li, who became a member of the varsity roster in eighth grade. "I never expected it. I have played tennis all my life and Guilderland tennis gave me a new opportunity. I have really enjoyed it on this team."
"I am excited. No matter how well we do, we got there," Guilderland senior Meghan Uzzilia said. "This is the first time a Guilderland team has done this and there are also not many teams from around the state that have been this far."
Guilderland's first sectional title in 16 years was followed up by a 7-0 triumph over Queensbury for the right to represent Section 2 in the state Division I tournament. They followed with a 6-1 regional victory over Section 3 champion Fayetteville-Manlius.
Players say they were motivated to win the title for Murray because of all the work she's put in through the years.
"It meant a lot to us to get her that win," Uzzilia said. "We had never been to regionals before and it was nice to play new people."
"We were all really happy to win it. We felt we deserved it after what happened last year, coming in second at sectionals," Li said. "This is the best team Guilderland has had in a while now. It is a great opportunity to be on this team now."
The last time Guilderland captured a sectional team title in 2010, there was no team state championship event to compete in.
"Because we were so close last year, we knew we had to pull this off this year," Uzzilia said. "Our lineup pretty much stayed the same and we have a pretty strong team. I had a lot of confidence going into the season. I really thought we would take the whole thing."
Li and Uzzilia, the team's top two singles players, went to the same venue last week where the team will compete Friday and finished fourth in the state doubles tournament. In 2025, the duo came in eighth.
"I was thrilled," Murray said. "They wanted to win sectionals, which they did. I am very excited for them and proud of them. I don't think I could have written the script any better for their senior year."
After competing together on the big stage last week, Li and Uzzilia are happy to get to share the experience with the rest of their teammates this week.
"I am so excited for them. It is such a great opportunity. You make so many core memories there," Li said. "I know when Meghan and I went (for the singles and doubles event), we bonded with other players from the section. We made friends with players from the other sections, too."
Li has played at No. 1 singles and is 8-6 overall. Uzzilia enters play Friday with a 14-2 mark. What has helped propel this season's squad to new heights is the overall depth of the roster. Katie Sheng is an eighth grader with an 11-0 record. The trio of senior Grace Curro, sophomore Anika Bhupati and sophomore Brooklyn Scavio are all 16-0. Senior Maanya Nallamothu is 15-0, junior Nitya Sharma is 15-1, senior Monica Bauer is 13-1 and junior Diya Bandichhode checks in at 12-2.
Guilderland (16-0) enters play Friday having gone 44-3 over the last three years, including a sparkling 31-1 mark in Suburban Council play. Five seniors will depart a 2026 roster also featuring eight juniors, two sophomores, one freshman and one eighth grader.
"Honestly, I am really sad leaving the team," Li said. "Getting to this point, we have already done well. Maybe in the future, we can do even better."
SubscribeThere’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Long climb to the top: Inside Guilderland girls' tennis' historic state semifinal run.