Barrington scores an MSL title, with Hersey close behind
Although it was one of the closest team scores in years, Barrington still was able to net a 20th consecutive Mid-Suburban League girls tennis championship, posting 53 points at Schaumburg on Saturday afternoon to complete the three-day tournament.
Hersey followed with 46 points for second place, and Fremd was third with 38, just ahead of Buffalo Grove (36).
The Fillies sent five of their teams to championship matches, with three of Barrington's representatives earning first place medals.
"We had some great matches with the young ladies, and they definitely had to work for it," said Barrington coach Tracy Waters-Miller. "They didn't let the pressure get to them. They had a plan and they stuck to it. Every point counts, and that's what we do well."
The rematch between Palatine freshman Asuka Kawai and Barrington junior Michelle Linden went off as planned at first singles. Kawai had defeated Linden in their first meeting this season at an MSL divisional match.
Kawai succeeded again, topping Linden 6-3, 6-3. Palatine coach Dino Trinh was proud of the league's newly crowned singles champ.
"I was nervous to play in the finals," Kawai said. "I knew Michelle (Linden) would change her game plan for the conference finals. This week I worked on my serves and my volleys. I played like this was any normal tournament. I enjoyed it and I had fun."
Barrington enjoyed stellar finishes from its three champions - seniors Addie Hirsch/Anna Donoghue as they won 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 1 doubles final against senior Maggie Hanna and freshman Kate Bodensteiner; the doubles team of Hannah Park/Sara Amano, who defeated their Buffalo Grove adversary Jessie Schwartz/Anna Harisiadis 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3; and senior Carolyn Levy at No. 2 singles.
For Levy, it's a the third consecutive year of MSL championship hardware. She defeated Wheeling sophomore Ophelia Aoraha 6-0, 6-0, Palatine junior Cora Jacobsen 6-4, 6-2 and then Hersey sophomore Ana Karapetiana 6-2, 6-1 in the finals.
"The competition was really tough, because there are a lot of consistent and good players," Levy said. "Playing school tennis has been the best part of high school. I've grown with (my teammates) over the years. I played my hardest. I'm happy how it's played out to this point."
Hersey's goal this year was to give Barrington a run for its money in the tournament, and that's exactly what the Huskies did. They sent three players to finals, and two of them left with first-place medals.
At No. 3 singles, Hersey's Tyler Ann Valerio defeated Conant senior Radhika Patel 6-0, 6-1, Buffalo Grove senior Catie Speer 6-1, 6-1 and Fremd freshman Julia Smiarowska 6-1, 6-0.
Hersey's No. 4 doubles team of seniors Delanie Steinweg/Lauren Kiraly also won their final.
"I expected to be close with Barrington, but I didn't anticipate this close of a point spread," said Hersey coach Sharon Meintzer. "It's playoff tennis - the nerves are higher, and you never know what might happen. The girls put in their work; they study strategies and play off-season tennis.
"In the 12 years since I've been with the program, I think this is the first time we had three in the final with two of them winning."
Both Buffalo Grove and Fremd sent two teams to finals.
Fremd's tandem of seniors Caroline Freeman/Alice Zhang earned the title at No. 2 doubles.
Zhang/Freeman beat Prospect's Anna Batcha/Lauren Becherer 6-0, 6-4, Hersey's Emma Cooke/Sammi Lee 6-2, 6-2 and Barrington's Paige Broustis/Nidhi Jha 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.
"There was a little more pressure this year because we won last year," Freeman said. "We had to focus more this time around. We had a lot of practice at the net, and it helped us out with fast hands."
"We knew we had to start off strong and aggressive (in the final)," Zhang said. "We had to fight back because (Broustis/Jha) found their groove. Anything can happen in sectionals. We have to step our game up."
The area teams will play in sectionals next week, and the pairings are much different than 2013's edition. Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Fremd and Palatine will compete at the Stevenson sectional, while Elk Grove, Conant, Hoffman and the Saxons will be at Schaumburg. Rolling Meadows, Maine West, Prospect and St. Viator will travel to Glenbrook North, while Wheeling competes at Highland Park and Leyden at York.