William Floyd Girls Tennis Has Its Eyes on No. 24

The William Floyd girls varsity tennis team is getting ready for another season, and if history is any indication, the Colonials should once again be a team to watch in Suffolk County.

Head coach Dave Pia will lead the Colonials into the 2026 season after the program continued its remarkable run of success last year.

William Floyd has built one of the area's most consistent girls tennis programs over the past several decades, and last season marked the 23rd consecutive year the Colonials qualified for the Section XI playoffs.

The team didn't just make the postseason — it made another deep run.

William Floyd advanced to the final four, a feat the Colonials have accomplished in 11 of their last 14 seasons.

That kind of consistency is difficult to find in high school sports, and the Colonials will have plenty of familiar faces back on the court this season.

Among those returning are Anabel and Lydia Van Cott, who enjoyed an outstanding 2025 season as a doubles team. The sisters finished second at the Suffolk County Doubles Tournament, earning themselves a spot in the NYSPHSAA Girls Tennis State Championships.

Once they reached the state tournament, the Van Cotts showed they belonged, winning their first-round matchup against some of the best doubles teams in New York.

Now, with both players returning, William Floyd has another experienced tandem ready to lead the way.

A large majority of last year's team is also expected back for the 2026 season, giving Pia and the Colonials plenty of experience to work with.

That combination of returning talent and a program accustomed to playing meaningful matches late in the season puts William Floyd in a strong position heading into the new campaign.

The immediate goal is clear: extend the program's incredible postseason streak.

If the Colonials qualify for the Section XI playoffs again, it would mark their 24th consecutive postseason appearance, extending a run that has become one of the more impressive accomplishments in local high school athletics.

But the Colonials aren't likely to be satisfied simply with making the playoffs.

With a core of experienced players returning and a track record of making deep postseason runs, William Floyd will once again have its sights set on playing tennis well into the postseason.

For a program that has made the final four in 11 of its last 14 seasons, anything less would probably feel like an early exit.

With most of last season’s roster returning, William Floyd’s 2026 outlook will hinge on how the Colonials’ returning experience could shape their push for a 24th straight playoff appearance and another final-four run.