Stevenson's still winning, and so is Palatine's Kawai
Just a week removed from Saturday's North Suburban Conference title effort, Stevenson continued its winning ways.
This version of sectional tennis host by the Patriots was played Friday and Saturday at three different venues, due to volatile weather: Vernon Hills Sports Complex, and indoors at the Libertyville Tennis Club and College Park in Deerfield.
The Patriots finished at 31 points, with Barrington second with 25. Fremd and Palatine tied for third with 10 points apiece.
All four Stevenson entrants qualified for the state tournament, which will be hosted by Buffalo Grove Thursday through Saturday.
Stevenson seniors Kaylin Dong/Zoe Taylor won doubles by besting their teammates, junior Vinaya Rao and freshman Katherine Harvey, 7-5, 7-5.
Dong/Taylor only lost two games in the entire tournament before they battled Rao/Harvey. The top-seeded champion tandem defeated Lake Zurich's Sam Bendfeldt/Emily Leahy 6-1, 6-0, Vernon Hills' Isabella Cirone/Leah Dosemagen 6-0, 6-0, and Barrington's Anna Donoghue/Addie Hirsch 6-0, 6-1 on their way to the final.
"It was our second goal of the year (to win sectionals)," said Stevenson coach Tom Stanhope. "Our first goal was to win conference, and we did that. We also wanted to qualify the whole team. The doubles seeds held. They showed great patience. We're aggressive as a team and we were really tested well this weekend.
"(Next week) is three good days of tennis. We will do what we do best. It is unacceptable to go in the backdraw and not try your best. Everyone has played at state before. Mentally and physically, we have to be prepared."
Stevenson seniors Zoe Manion and Kendall Kirsch also advanced to state, with third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively, in sectional singles play.
The top two spots in singles went to performers from the Mid-Suburban League, in a rematch of their recent conference clash, as Palatine freshman Asuka Kawai and Barrington junior Michelle Linden faced off for a third time this season.
And for a third time, Kawai prevailed, staying unbeaten this fall with a 6-2, 6-3 decision.
"I need to prepare for any style," Kawai said of the state tournament. "I have to play my tennis and use my consistency."
Kawai registered wins over Hersey sophomore Ana Karpetiani 6-0, 6-0, Vernon Hills sophomore Olivia Jazbutis 6-0, 6-0, Stevenson's Manion 6-3, 6-2 on the way to the final.
In additin to Linden, Barrington will be represented by a pair of doubles teams at state. Freshman Nidhi Jha and junior Paige Broustis topped teammates Addie Hirsch and Anna Donoghue in the third-place doubles match.
It will be Linden's third state appearance, and the second for the Hirsch/Donoghue duet.
"We did the best we could have," said Barrington coach Tracy Waters-Miller. "They played their game and had fun. We did it well, and we made it simple."
Although Linden faltered to Kawai in the title match, the Barrington no. 1 singles player was pleased to have gotten past Kirsch in the semis. Linden handed Kirsch her first loss of the season.
"Looking back at the season, I haven't had the best year," Linden said. "(Defeating Kirsch) really gave me confidence going into state. I'm happy for our team, because it is a little harder to do by yourself. Having the team next to me competing at state keeps me motivated."
Schaumburg sectional: Elk Grove sophomore Jelena Vujanic earned the top singles finish in the Schaumburg sectional to earn a second straight trip to the state touranment. The second qualifying spot in singles went to Elgin junior Dahlia Keonavongsa.
Also earning a spot in the state field were Conant's Haley Anderson/Priya Gupta, who finished second in doubles.
South Elgin finished with 26 to take top teams honors, ahead of Conant (18) and Elk Grove (14).