Three wins for Barrington's Linden, Palatine's Kawai
Day one is in the books for the girls tennis state tournament, with five entrants from the Mid-Suburban League having earned the right to continue play Friday.
After Thursday's competition at tournament host Buffalo Grove and the 11 other Mid-Suburban League sites, Hinsdale Central leads the team standings with 24 team points, while Stevenson is second with 22. Lyons stands in third with 21 points, while Barrington and Glenbrook South are tied for seventh with 13 points.
The two players who met to decide the MSL singles championship are the only ones from the conference still in the championship draw: Barrington junior Michelle Linden and Palatine freshman Asuka Kawai.
In Linden's third trip to the state tournament, she remains unbeaten in her first three matches that were played at Barrington. Linden defeated Galesburg's Emily King 6-0, 6-0 in her first round, and followed up with a 6-0, 6-0 win over York's Angela Averinos. In the third round, Linden shut her opponent out again with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Glenbard West's Caroline Maltby.
Kawai had similar success, remaining undefeated this season by recording a 6-2, 6-1 win over Mahomet's Sara Rice before dropping just one game in her next two rounds, topping Payton's Jessie Mitchell 6-0, 6-0 and Kaneland's Samantha Schrepferma 6-1, 6-0.
"I wasn't warmed up that great and (Rice) was good at pushing and chasing," Kawai said. "I was too aggressive, so I brought down my speed and slowed down my play. I also wasn't as focused because my ESL classmates came out for the first match, so it made me too nervous. I'll change my game up for (today)."
Both Fillies doubles teams also advance to the next day. Barrington's Addie Hirsch/Anna Donoghue won their first two rounds, played at Rolling Meadows. Hirsch/Donoghue edged out Lyons' Sophie Allison/Joie Reisch 6-3, 7-5 and topped Ottawa's Bailey Bradish/Mariah Cavanaugh 6-3, 6-3.
But the No. 1 Fillies tandem faltered in a tough 6-3, 7-5 loss to 9-16 seed Sophia Osabuohien/Timara Maxwell of Homewood-Flossmoor in the third round.
Donoghue/Hirsch will return today to Rolling Meadows in the backdraw.
"We don't count that as a loss," Hirsch said. "The fact that we played loose ... We just say, 'Let's have fun and play our best tennis.' (The Homewood Flossmoor tandem) are great tennis players."
"No matter how it ends, this is the last weekend of tennis for me no matter what. It is fun playing (with my teammates) and I'm glad we're out here."
"I have a good partner and we have great chemistry," Donoghue said. "We try to stay upbeat and play our game. We're a close-knit team."
Barrington's Paige Broustis/Nidhi Jha played four matches, and two of them went to three sets. The Fillies' no. 2 doubles team was defeated in its first match against Lockport Tomi Jo Mansell/Hana Khatib 0-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Jha/Broustis bounced back, winning their next three in the consolation bracket, against Reavis' Ashley Galason/Alexis Kasper 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), Belleville East's Isabel Burwitz/Sophie Von Hatten 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, and St. Charles North's Lianne Anderson/Emma Spellman 6-0, 6-1. Broustis/Jha will face Normal Community's Abby Kosharek/Katie Toohill on Friday at Prospect.
"We really do a good job of keeping each other motivated," Broustis said. "We're playing good teams and we're capable of coming back. It has been a long day. We look forward to pushing through as many matches and accomplishing as much as we can."
"A good night sleep is what we need," Jha said following the duo's third match. "It's pretty cool being (at state). We want it badly, and I don't think we would have bounced back if we didn't."
Elk Grove sophomore Jelena Vujanic made it to the second day, just as she did in 2013's state tournament. After notching a 6-1, 6-1 win over Oswego East Jaiere Harlow, Vujanic lost to 17-32 seed Taylor Tamblyn of New Trier 6-4, 6-2.
The setback didn't deter the lefty. Vujanic rebounded with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Morris' Megan Davy, followed by a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Timothy Christian's McKenna Byrne. Next up for Elk Grove's sophomore is Belleville West's Kayleigh Thurwalker at Palatine.
"Really, I mentally have to clear my mind and concentrate about the positions of each match," Vujanic said. "It was really great to have the fans' support from the school. I'm pretty confident I played well in my last couple (of matches). If I do the same as I did today, I'll be good."
Leyden freshman Jessica Minkov and the Conant doubles team Haley Anderson/Priya Gupta were eliminated from play Thursday. However both tallied wins before bowing out. Minkov won her first-rounder against Charleston's Maegan Flight 6-4, 6-2, and Anderson/Gupta won a round in the consolation bracket over Charleston's Kaylin Albin/Eva Bacon 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.