Piper Charney was not born with a tennis racket in her hand. But once she wrapped her tiny fingers around the handle of her first racket, tennis became her love.
Charney recalls taking up tennis around the age of four or five, hitting balls older sister Emma. Tapping balls back and forth became learning strokes and how to control the ball across the net. Though she dabbled in soccer for a bit, tennis has led to both Piper and Emma earning Division I scholarship opportunities.
Piper, a senior at Lucy Beckham High School, is the All-Lowcountry girls tennis player of the year. She helped the program win Class AAAA state titles in 2020 and 2021 and lost just one high school match in three years. She is ranked as one of the top players, in singles and doubles, in the country, and has signed to play at Michigan next year.
Charney has traveled and competed at the highest level of the junior circuit. She won a singles and doubles title at the USTA National winter championships last January.
Charney and her family moved to Mt. Pleasant from Louisville, Kentucky, five years ago to take advantage of the more competitive tennis community in the Lowcountry. She has her own personal coach, former Duke University All-American Jonathan Stokke. Yeah, you might say tennis is pretty important in the life of Piper Charney.
“I love the game, love the competition and love working to improve,” Charney says. “When you enjoy something so much, it doesn’t feel like hard work, but it is. It takes a lot of time and effort to be good and I want to be the best.”
Charney chose to sign with Michigan over her other top choices, Vanderbilt and UCLA.
“Michigan offered the best combination of academics and tennis and I really liked the coaching staff,” she explains. “I felt like Michigan recruited me harder. They were the most interested throughout the process.”
Upon Charney’s signing with the Wolverines, Michigan coach Ronni Bernstein said, “Piper will be such a wonderful addition to our program. She will be the ultimate college player as she excels in both singles and doubles. She might be one of the most competitive kids I have ever recruited.”
Competitive, almost to a fault, describes Charney well.
“I do not handle losing very well,” she admits.
Emma Charney is a freshman at the University of Southern California and plays on the tennis team. USC is a future member of the Big 10, which could pit the sisters against each other at some point.
“We have never played in a match because we both are so competitive,” Piper says. “Not sure how that would work out. It would be World War III.”
All-Lowcountry Girls Tennis
First team
Piper Charney, Lucy Beckham, Sr.
Ranked No. 4 in 18-and-under by USTA; committed to Michigan; won AAAAA/AAAA singles two years ago.
Reese Frank, Wando, Fr.
Finished third in AAAAA/AAAA state tournament; led Wando to 17-3 season.
Ella DeFord, Oceanside Collegiate, So.
Finished second in AAA/AA/A state tournament; Led Oceanside to AA state title team.
Ansley Cohen, Philip Simmons, Jr.
Advanced to third round of AAA/AA/A state tournament; led team to state semifinals.
Bella Nava, Bishop England, So.
No. 1 player on the Class AA Lower State finalist team
Rachel Giannelli, Berkeley, Sr.
Region 6-AAAAA player of the year
Honorable Mention
Jessica Osborne, Pinewood Prep; Somers Kirk, Porter-Gaud; Lily Sloan, Ashley Hall; Perrin Rogers, Lucy Beckham; Sophia Broomall, James Island; Amelia Whirrett, Philip Simmons; Kate Johnson, Oceanside Collegiate; Talula Enright, Oceanside Collegiate; Hannah Giannelli, Berkeley; Calli Casazza, Wando; Lada Palygina, Wando
Greta Oswald, Cane Bay; Kira Radach, Cane Bay; Lyric Cureton, Goose Creek; April Welch, Goose Creek; Morgan Miller, Stratford; Sarah Suter, Stratford; Riley Young, Bishop England; Kaleshia Green, Woodland; Elena Stopar, Ashley Ridge; Rolyns Hadley, Ashley Ridge; Madison Cleveland, Fort Dorchester; Grace Hough, Summerville; Camryn Dillings, Summerville; Kamya Pham, West Ashley; Emma Crow, West Ashley; Claire Britton, West Ashley.
Coach of the Year: Shawn Harris, Oceanside Collegiate
