Rosary defeats Kaneland on tiebreaker
Rosary had dropped its fair share of close tennis matches this fall.
But the Royals were on the opposite side Monday afternoon at Marmion High School in Aurora as Rosary escaped Kaneland on the tiebreaker (total games won) at 79-60 after the schools' nonconference girls tennis dual ended in a 4-4 deadlock.
"The (matches) where we did fall short we learned that we have to hustle," Rosary coach John Tsang said after Rosary improved to 3-6. "None of the schools we (lost to) earlier this season really overwhelmed us with ability or skills. It was determination."
Kaneland (4-2) has a trio of savvy state veterans in Sammie Schrepferman, Madi Jurcenko and Angelica "Jelly" Emmanouil.
Jurcenko, a three-time state qualifier, and Emmanouil needed less than half an hour to dispatch their first doubles counterparts from Rosary, love and love.
The returning state veterans extended their season-long unbeaten streak to 11 matches.
"We have playing together since sophomore year," Jurcenko said of her senior partner. "We just put our shots away today. We have been very consistent, playing smart (this season). We try to learn our opponents and play to their weaknesses."
Schrepferman, also a returning state qualifier, dropped but a pair of games in her straight-sets win at first singles over the Royals' Grace Goheen.
The senior had to overcome some physical discomfort in the process.
"Today my (right) shoulder was hurting, so I just had to play with it," Schrepferman said. "(I was most pleased) with my serving. My serves have been an issue lately. I didn't have any double faults today."
But Rosary also countered with its own one-sided wins.
Fourth doubles partners Rebecca Bens and Bella Duarte, both of whom live in St. Charles, won 12 of the 13 contested games.
Rosary senior Alex Carter captured her third singles match against the Knights' Kayla Carirossi with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph.
Rosary doubles partners Sloan Abalos and McKenna Novack gave Rosary a 4-3 lead with a 6-1, 6-2 victory from the fifth slot.
Rosary had deadlocked the match at 3-3 when freshman Angela Dassis won 7-5 and 6-3 at second singles.
"(Winning the first set) gave a lot confidence to succeed," Dassis said. "My coaches, especially, they helped me and pushed me through."
With the threat of disruptive weather in the area, third-set tiebreakers were decided on a 10-point set.
The Knights' second-doubles team of Colleen Landers and Stephanie Karolewicz traded 6-1 verdicts with Alexis Thomas and Haley Van Dyke.
The Knights' partners denied their fellow seniors 10-6.
Kaneland fifth doubles teammates Mallory Duggan and Anna Wendling outlasted the Royals' Natalie Bens and Jasmine Garcia, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, to necessitate the tiebreaker.