Geneva seizes command in River

Matt Bulman realized his St. Charles East girls tennis team would have a hard time handling the Geneva singles duo of Kirby Einck and Grace Krueger.

"They're very tough to beat - those two singles players," Bulman said. "We knew that coming in. We were hoping for a doubles sweep."

But the showdown for supremacy in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division between the undefeated league members never truly materialized Thursday afternoon in Geneva.

Einck, a three-time state qualifier and two-time defending conference champion, and Krueger did not drop a game in their straight-sets victories.

Elizabeth Pendergast made it a clean sweep at singles for the Vikings, who also won their first two doubles matches to seal the 5-2 victory.

Geneva improved to 8-4 overall and 4-0 in division play; the Saints dropped to 6-2, 3-1.

"They deserved to win this match," Bulman said. "They're running away with (the River) right now."

Einck set the tone early for the Vikings.

"I think I have played really good tennis so far (this season)," said Einck, who improved to 12-2 on the year. "I just hit my shots, tried to move her around and work until she gave me some short balls."

Krueger is also the reigning conference champion at second singles for Geneva.

The sophomore doubled the Vikings' lead with her love-love result.

Haley Jeanes salvaged some pride for the Saints' singles players, but Pendergast put the Vikings on the verge of clinching the dual match with her 6-2 and 6-3 victory.

"Singles did their job for me once again," Geneva coach Maureen Weiler said.

The doubles matches were much more competitive, with the exception of Shannon Foster and Emma Hazel making quick work of the Saints' Paige Ackerman and Jaci Spoerl.

"Today we just had a really good attitude," said Hazel, a returning state qualifier. "We were determined to keep it together and play as a team."

The seniors' 6-2, 6-4 victory sealed the victory for Geneva.

Three sets were needed in an equal number of final doubles duels.

Madelynn Codra and Madeline Krafcisin dropped their first set to the Saints' Emily Hautziner and Katlyn Downing, but the Geneva partnership rebounded to earn a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

But Sonia Ost and Jenna Patzner followed a similar script to end the Vikings' run of victories.

Ost and Patzner survived Jaden Ciesielski and Kayleigh Barnaba 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

"We really wanted to win after we lost the first set," Ost said. "I think we had more energy. We had to work off mentally making a shot on them."

Grace Esler and Allison Smith won fourth doubles for St. Charles East with a 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4 win.