Girls tennis: Glenbard South defeats Aurora Central Catholic
The Glenbard South girls tennis team beat visiting Aurora Central Catholic 4-1 on Thursday afternoon. It was the Raiders' final conference dual meet of the season.
And thus it was time to take stock of the Raiders' chances in the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division meet that takes place Oct. 7 at Glenbard South.
"Wheaton Academy and us. It's usually the case," said Raiders first-year coach Jim Fazio. "We feel a little stronger this year with eight returning seniors. If we play well and have luck on our side. We could make a run for it."
The win Thursday pushed Glenbard South to 5-1 in the MSC Blue with the Raiders' only league loss being a 3-2 decision to Wheaton Academy.
Fazio thinks a key for Glenbard South in winning the conference title is the play of the Raiders' doubles squads. The No. 2 and No. 3 doubles entries beat their Wheaton Academy counterparts in the schools' dual meet.
On Thursday the Glenbard South No. 2 doubles entry of Nicki Campbell and Lily Taylor won 6-4, 6-4. It's the first season the two have played together.
"We work unbelievably well together," Campbell said. "She has strengths I don't have and I have strengths she doesn't have."
At No. 3 Danielle Palmieri and Emily Gasparo won their match 6-2, 6-0.
"We stay positive. We don't get down and keep the momentum going," Palmieri said. "We put the shots away real nicely today."
Also victorious against the Chargers were Hannah Jennings and Katie Long at No. 1 doubles, prevailing 6-1, 6-0. Fazio said although Jennings and Long lost to Wheaton Academy, they played the Warriors close.
In singles play Glenbard South's Sohini Surapaneni won at No. 2, 6-0, 6-0.
Aurora Central's lone victory came at No. 1 singles where Giselle Salazar won 6-2, 6-4. She has just one conference defeat.
"She's been doing well all season," said Chargers coach Tyler Livingston, who is in his first year at the helm with assistant coach Allison Stevenson.
Livingston is optimistic about his team's potential at the MSC Blue meet.
"We have a good chance. We've developed a lot this year. And we have another week to prepare," he said.