Girls tennis: Teammates' support rallies WW South's Choi
Wheaton Warrenville South girls tennis singles player Sam Choi was not sure how much or how well she'd play Saturday.
First, there was the threat of more rain after Friday's first round of the DuPage Valley Conference meet was washed out. But even more pressing was the health of Choi, the Tigers junior who took fifth in the state last year and who is unbeaten in 2017.
Bothered by migraines and not feeling well, the junior hadn't practiced for a couple days and didn't really expect to play at Metea Valley on Saturday prior to an unexpected visit from some teammates.
"I was not expected to really play today," said Choi, who did indeed take the court and stay perfect on the year. "My team actually showed up in front of my house this morning. I was a little surprised, but I'm here. I'm here and I got my job done for today."
The talented Tigers junior won her quarterfinal match 6-1, 6-0 before besting Waubonsie Valley's Hannah Owens 6-0, 6-2 in the semis to improve to 22-0 on the year and 8-0 in the DVC. But before she could square off against Naperville Central sophomore Jacquelyne Qi in the finals for a second straight year, the rain returned and the match was postponed until Monday.
Choi hopes to return to full form and make a run at a state title, although she knows the field is tough this year with defending champion Lahari Yelamanchili of Lyons Township back along with some talented seniors who had skipped the high school campaign in 2016 to focus on their game.
"Last year I was lucky and had a good draw and my matches were maybe not as difficult as when I was a freshman," she said. "This upcoming state I think will be more difficult because last year there were juniors that hadn't gone to state because they hadn't done (the high school) season, and now as a senior they're coming back. So it could be a struggle."
Qi, who placed in the top 12 in state as a freshman, welcomes the break before taking on Choi in the finals.
"The wind was definitely something that I had to overcome, but yeah, they were both pretty good matches today," said the Redhawk, who swept Metea Valley's Meera Baid in the semifinal. "I'm kind of glad that we get a day break. I can kind of relax after two matches and regroup a little."
In second singles, WW South's Emily Orlove breezed to the finals Saturday and will take on Naperville North's Kavya Rachapalli in the finals. Rachapalli edged Metea Valley's Natalia Kochkadon 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the semis.
Naperville Central top seed Katie Liu will play Naperville North second-seed Jen Ray in the third-singles championship Monday after each player went 2-0 on Saturday.
In doubles action, which was played at Waubonsie Valley, the first-doubles final will feature top-seeded Hanna Back and Hannah Neuman of Neuqua Valley, and Metea Valley's Abbey Woods and Taylor Goldman, who knocked off the second-seeded Huskies duo of Irene Zhang and Chandani Bansal.
At second doubles, the weather prevented the completion of the semifinal action, as top-seeded Sania Hussain and Nyah Woller of Naperville North are facing Metea Valley in the semis looking to reach the finals against Naperville Central's Alex Dram and Annie Kong.
The finals at third doubles will pit the top-seeded Redhawks duo of Annika Guenther and Emma Treco against Nequa's Audrey Provine and Jessica Liu, who defeated the second-seeded Huskies pair of Hannah Newell and Madison Ding 6-3, 6-3 in semis.
At fourth doubles, Huskies top seeds Alejandra Sosa and Kayla O'Connor won four sets while dropping just two games. They await the winner of Naperville Central and Neuqua to determine their opponent in the finals.
Heading into the weekend, Naperville North sat atop the DVC with 45 points with defending conference champion Naperville Central in second at 43.