Jacobs nabs FVC girls tennis crown
Patience is a virtue.
Just ask Jacobs girls tennis coach Jon Betts.
During Betts' 10-year tenure as the Golden Eagles coach, Jacobs finished second in the Fox Valley Conference six times.
Jacobs is no longer a bridesmaid. For the first time since 2003, the Golden Eagles are conference champs.
Scoring 104 points, Jacobs outdistanced second place Prairie Ridge by 5 points Saturday at the FVC tournament, which was hosted by Dundee-Crown and held at Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge and Jacobs.
"Winning the conference is something we have talked about all year," said Betts." I am very happy for the girls. They felt the pressure but got the job done."
Ashley Kosy was the top performer for the Golden Eagles, winning No. 1 singles. Kosy knocked off Prairie Ridge's Annie Timm 6-1, 6-1 in the title match.
'I thought my footwork and focus were all good," said Kosy, "My serve was good and I played with a lot of confidence."
Freshman No. 2 singles player Haley Steinkamp joined Kosy in the winner's circle by defeating Grayslake Central's Raquel Ruiz in the title match 6-0, 6-1.
The Golden Eagles' third doubles team consisting of Alexa Azcui and Katie Toomire claimed top honors with a 7-6, 7-5 win over the Prairie Ridge duo of Julia Kappil-Shelby Stevenson.
Placing second for Jacobs was Maggie Corbett (third singles) and the fourth doubles team of Kori Kent-Marie Beyer. Third place finishers for the conference champs were the No. 1 doubles team of Morgan Vachio-Sara Elliott and the second doubles team of Sara Jackowski-Chloe Moders.
PR's runner-up finish was keyed by the top doubles team of Mikaela McNally-Natalie Favia taking home the top prize with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Crystal Lake Central's Maddie Fox-Carley George in the title match.
"We are best friends and that helps in doubles tennis," said McNally. "We communicate well together."
Said Favia: "We have a positive attitude no matter how much we mess up. We don't let anything get us down."
Grayslake Central was fourth with a score of 84. The Rams were led by Liz Boucek, who defeated Corbett of Jacobs 6-0, 6-3 to win the championship at No. 3 singles. The No. 2 doubles team of Yuliya Mhaylovska-Michelle May finished second.
Crystal Lake South was 1 point behind Grayslake Central with 83 points to finish fifth. The top effort for the Gators came from the No. 4 doubles team of Sarah Kopfman-Alicia Rasmussen, who were third. Fourth place finishes came from Rachel Anklam (No. 3 singles), the No. 2 doubles team of Kristina Smithana-Kathleen Fues and the No. 3 doubles team of Kaci Crowley-Ektta Patel.
Cary-Grove, sixth with 64 points, received a third-place finish from the third doubles team of Bobbie Buerer-Julie Kregel.
"Six of our top 11 kids are underclassmen so we are very young," said Cary-Grove coach Laurie Bender. "We will learn this year and we should have an experienced team next season."
Dundee-Crown placed seventh with a score of 58. The Chargers got a sixth-place finish by their No. 1 doubles team of Alyssa Anderson-Camille Balch.
Hampshire, with 57 points, placed a point behind D-C in eighth place. Hannah Hougland paced the Whip-Purs with a fourth-place finish at No. 1 singles.
"Sure, I would have liked to have finished first," said Hougland. "But I lost to some good players and I feel ready for the sectionals next week."
Grayslake North, ninth with 56 points, got sixth-place finishes from Alyssa Piekarz (second singles) and the No. 2 doubles team of Abigail Rice-Emma Krostal.