When very good isn't good enough

When Rob White took over as Glenbard West girls tennis coach two years ago he knew he had a talented young team with a bright future.

He was so sure of the Hilltoppers' depth and potential that he predicted they would soon be challenging Hinsdale Central for West Suburban Silver supremacy.

That was two years ago, one year before the Red Devils won the state championship behind a trio of nationally ranked freshmen -- state champion doubles team Courteny Dolehide and Nida Hamilton, and Hanna Mar, who finished third at singles.

White was right in one respect. His talented Hilltoppers have matured into a formidable group, led by senior state-qualifying doubles team Ashlyn Selzer and Amanda Schwartz, but the enthusiastic coach has no illusions about displacing the Red Devils in conference.

And adding to his daunting task is the fact that last year Hinsdale Central joined Glenbard West in the York sectional, which the Red Devils won, advancing both singles and both doubles teams to the state meet in a successful quest for the championship.

That entire state title team returns. In fact Red Devils coach Jerilyn Scardina returns everyone from her conference lineup.

Many observers are saying that Hinsdale Central could be the top high school team in the nation.

"They beat us 7-0," White said. "They're so deep we can't get a point on them. Two years ago I challenged them, but I didn't know those freshmen were coming up. It's unbelievable that they have three of the top 50 players in the country on one team.

"It's pretty impressive that Dolehide and Hamilton won state as freshmen. And Hanna has the heart and discipline to win it this year. She's the hardest-working player I've seen in years."

The IHSA's decision to switch the Red Devils to last year's York sectional broke up their former sectional grouping, which included other top teams such as Lyons Twp., Downers Grove South and Hinsdale South.

While it did make for greater sectional parity, Glenbard West, which won the York sectional two years ago, and host York, which had won it the five previous years, were suddenly faced with the eventual state champions assured of two singles and two doubles qualifiers.

"I feel like we ran into a buzzsaw," White said. "We're fighting for second or third place in conference, and if the sectional assignments hold, in sectional as well."

Schwartz has a slightly different take on the Red Devils' supremacy.

"I kind of like being in conference and sectional with Hinsdale Central," Schwartz said. "We play them about five times, and it's more fun to play against the better teams. We're going to see them at state anyway. They work so hard, they've earned everything they've accomplished. They have precision. They put you on defense at all times."

Dave Williams, the York coach, also had some thoughts about the sudden arrival of Hinsdale Central in the Dukes' sectional.

"It hurts, but they had to do something to even things out," Williams said. "It was unfair because some very good players would miss out on going to state because there were so many great teams there. As much as I'd like to see my kids go, I'm still in favor of sending the best kids possible to state."

York, which should be fighting to stay in the top three in the conference, will be led by Kelly Barry, a junior, a potential top-eight finisher in state.

"We're a little stronger than we were last year," Williams said. "But Glenbard West has one of the strongest teams they've had in a long time. They beat us 6-1 last year and it could happen again."

Meanwhile, Hinsdale Central is ready for the challenge of repeating as state champion.

In addition to the aforementioned freshmen, who are now sophomores, the Red Devils also return Alex Tapak and Emily Lombardi, a doubles team that went to the quarterfinals at state, and Kate Klein, who finished 17th in Illinois in singles.

"We were a very young team last year," said Scardina, who has coached the Red Devils to nine state championships. "Emily was the only junior on the state team. And our entire conference lineup is back. We expect everyone to be stronger with another year's experience. Top to bottom, this is the strongest team I've had in 31 years."