Girls tennis: It's indoors fun for Fremd

For the first time 10 years, Fremd's girls tennis team earned a sectional championship.

The Vikings took top team honors in the Hersey 2A sectional meet Saturday, sending all four of its entries to the state tournament.

In 2007, Fremd tied for a sectional title - but this is the first time in school history the Vikes will send the full complement of players to state.

Fremd topped the field with 36 points, with Barrington runner-up with 17 points. Palatine (13) was third, followed by Hersey (12), Buffalo Grove (8) and Prospect (6).

Barrington qualified two doubles teams to state, while Palatine and Buffalo Grove both qualified a player in singles.

Due to the all-day storms Saturday, the tournament was moved indoors to Forest View Racquet and Fitness Club in Arlington Heights.

Since Fremd coach Lauren O'Donnell took the reins of the tennis program seven years ago, she set a personal goal to win the Mid-Suburban League title. Having attained that goal last week, she was ecstatic to see that both Fremd singles and doubles entries were playing one another for sectional titles.

In doubles, the Fremd No. 1 team of seniors Julia Smiarowska and Kate Bodensteiner played juniors Elsie Ha and Kellie Ha.

In singles, it was junior Diya Matta competing for top honors against Kyra Emmanouilidis.

"The seniors we have are great leaders and set a great foundation coming into sectionals," O'Donnell said. "The younger players see where the bar is set and they hold themselves accountable. I knew with the depth of our team we had a possibility to send four players. I'm not shocked, but I'm very excited about the day."

Smiarowska/Bodensteiner netted themselves a third state berth, getting a 6-0, 6-2 win against Barrington's Niyanthi Puliyala/Kathleen Tomasian in the morning and edging out the Ha sisters 6-2, 6-4 in the final.

It's the first sectional title for Fremd's senior partners.

"We thought there was a chance we could send four teams, but we never expected all of us to be in the final," Bodensteiner said. "We've come so far - me, Julia and our team. We've seen how our program has evolved and we're proud to be a part of this."

"We're excited for state," Smiarowska said. "Every match will be a little sadder, because it's one less match we're going to play in high school."

Matta notched her first sectional championship as well. She handled Buffalo Grove's Kina Tamai 6-0, 6-0 in the semis before besting her teammate Emmanouilidis 6-1, 6-0.

Last fall, Matta's season was plagued by injuries. But the singles sectional champ has tweaked her workout regimen and has enjoyed a healthy, successful run this season.

"Last year I only played a solid month," Matta said. "I've been stretching and working out a little bit differently and it's making me stronger. The state tournament will be exciting."

Matta hopes she earns a state tourney appearance on her home courts at Fremd.

"I play better when people watch," she said. "I like that kind of pressure. This season has been a dream."

Barrington qualified both its doubles teams - the No. 1 senior tandem of Nidhi Jha/ Sara Amano and Puliyala/Tomasian. Jha/Amano defeated their teammates 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 in the third-place match.

"Fremd was the better team today," said Barrington coach Tracy Waters-Miller. "The seniors feel it's the end, and it's bittersweet. At state, I just say your last match you play should be your best. We're going to play as long as we can."

Puliyala/Tomasian entered the sectional unseeded. They upset 5/6-seeded Buffalo Grove duo Dasha Ignatova/Emma Boyd 6-2, 7-5 and 3/4-seeded Palatine tandem Ky Oreshkin/Anja Jacobsen 6-2, 6-1 on Friday.

Jha/Amano qualified together to state last year. This time, it will be Jha's fourth and final appearance.

"I just keep getting choked up when I talk about this," Jha said. "It's been so much fun all four years. I'm so proud of our teammates (Puliyala/Tomasian)."

Palatine sophomore Kanae Kawai produced a victory over Buffalo Grove junior Kina Tamai, 7-6 (8-4), 0-6, 6-3 in the third-place singles match. Both players earned state berths.

Tamai is the first player to qualify for the Bison since twins Lauren and Dana Goggin made it in doubles in 2012.

For Palatine, Kanae's sister Asuka Kawai finished third in singles last fall.

"Kanae's transition was great," said Palatine coach Christy Azriel. "She came into the season really wanting to play No. 1 singles. We had conversations of doubles, especially with the success of her with (Ky Oreshkin) last year. She had a really good season coming into sectional. She played well under a lot of pressure. Her goal was to get to state, and she came here to compete."

Buffalo Grove coach Kevin Schrammel was pleased to see Tamai advance.

"Kina has been the best player since she started at Buffalo Grove," he said. "(Tamai) has played in similar pressure situations, like in USTA, but there's something totally different about state. It's tough to qualify for state. It will be an experience for her. Trust your strikes and let it happen."

• Other state qualifiers from the area include the St. Viator senior doubles team of Patricia Dizon/Greta Zimmerman, who took top honors in the Class 1A Vernon Hills sectional. Joining them at state will be senior Robyn Teraji and junior Emma Zajac, who fook the fourth-place doubles spot.

The state tournament begins Thursday, hosted by Buffalo Grove and contested at Mid-Suburban League sites.