Palatine's Kawai earns spot in singles state semifinals

Playing just a few miles down the road from her own Palatine turf, sophomore Asuka Kawai had plenty of support on Friday.

On the second day of the girls tennis state tournament at Buffalo Grove, the Pirates' singles standout met with cheers, hugs and high-fives as she broke new ground by earning a spot in Saturday morning's semifinals.

Kawai, a 3-4 seed, defeated Michelle Bacalla of Niles North in a dramatic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 quarterfinal victory. Bacalla had earned a 5-8 seed.

Kawai is the lone Mid-Suburban League player remaining in the championship draw. Action resumes with the singles and doubles semifinals at 9 a.m. Saturday at Buffalo Grove, with the championshp matches to follow.

"I'm really happy I did better than last year," Kawai said. "(Bacalla) is really good runner. If I could spread her, and keep hitting big instead of pushing, I was going to be OK."

Kawai and Bacalla traded games until the Palatine sophomore faltered in the first set. Much of the same occurred in the second set as both competitors enjoyed success serving, but both had issues receiving. Kawai won her last two games after being tied 4-4 to force a third set.

That's when Kawai gained an exceptional amount of confidence. After trading eight deuces in game one of the third set, during which Kawai connected on 5 aces, she edged out Bacalla in game one. Kawai never looked back as the momentum shifted drastically. Kawai tallied 10 straight points between game two and four.

Earlier Friday, Kawai defeated Bloomington Central Catholic's Madison Tattini 6-1, 6-2.

A tough test awaits Kawai - No. 2 seed Isabella Lorenzini of Hinsdale Central, the state runner-up the last two years.

"(Kawai) is a great competitor," said Palatine coach Jim Lange. "She was tight in the first and even the second set, but she buckled down and put some balls in play. We weren't putting enough balls in play to rally, but in the third set - that was where Asuka's fitness came out like a firecracker and took control. She played aggressive."

Late in the second set, Kawait said she sensed some fatigue in her quarterfinal foe.

"I noticed (Bacalla) was dragging her legs whenever she went for a shot," Kawai said. "I just kept hitting the ball big. I wasn't nervous at all, but (Bacalla's) backhand was really good. I'm really happy that I did better than last year. I have to keep fighting and I hope as well (Saturday)."

Stevenson's defending doubles state champ Vinaya Rao/Katherine Harvey had a bit of a scare, but were able to fight off the New Trier duo of Michelle Capone/Catherine Mackinnon 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-5. They'll face Danielle Burich/Erika Oku of Hinsdale Central in a semifinal at Buffalo Grove.

The Patriots are in second place in the team race, but Hinsdale Central has built a commanding lead. The Red Devils have 42 points, with Stevenson (28) ahead of New Trier (24) and Lyons (22).

The Patriots' Zoe Taylor bowed out of the front draw with a loss in the fourth round before bouncing back with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Haleigh Porter of Homewood-Flossmoor in a sixth-round consolation bracket match. But Taylor's touranment road came to an end with a loss in the seventh round.

Grant's Gaby Schoenberg is among the consolation bracket quarterfinalists. She won three times Friday, getting a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South's Samantha Choi.

Libertyville's Danielle Blaser won twice in the backdraw before losing her sixth-round match.

Barrington senior Michelle Linden and Elk Grove junior Jelena Vujanic were able continue their postseason success. Linden faltered in her quarterfinal match in the front draw against Latin School's Alessandra Bianco 6-2, 6-1. Earlier in the day, the Wisconsin-bound Linden notched a victory over Rosary's Maria Goheen 6-2, 6-4.

"(Michelle) came in a little flat and (Bianco) didn't let her in," said Barrington coach Tracy Waters-Miller. "When you get to this level, it's always tough."

The Fillies are hopeful Linden could finish as high as fifth place.

"We have to continue getting team points no matter where you are in the draw," Waters-Miller said.

After losing in the third round of the front draw Thursday, Vujanic defeated Belleville Althoff's Emma Melichar 6-4, 6-3, Gabby Ochalik of Plainfield North 6-1, 6-4, Joliet Catholic player Nina Bertino 7-5, 6-2 and Tattini 3-6, 6-1 (10-8) on Friday.

Vujanic and Linden will see action in the consolation quarterfinals Saturday at Rolling Meadows.

Linden will meet New Trier's Cammy Frei, while Vujanic faces off against Northside College Prep player Nicole Roc.

Bowing out of the three-day tournament from the MSL included Fremd sophomore duo Kate Bodensteiner/Julia Smiarowska and Barrington's Anna Donoghue/ junior Nidhi Jha in the seventh round of the consolation bracket. Both teams earned five wins in the tournament.

Donoghue completes her high school career as a three-year state qualifier for the Fillies, along with being an MSL first doubles champ.

Fremd's tandem, plan to eventually benefit from its experience.

"We had some nerves that were not used to," Smiarowska said. "It helps us being here for the future that we can relax and just play. We played aggressive because when you lose twice, you're out."

"This experience will only help us," Bodensteiner said. "Our goal this year was to make state and now we made it to the top 16. This season didn't start off well, but things got better and we started playing well together. It helps our confidence playing at this level. We're just trying to get Fremd's name on the tennis maps."