Benet tops short-handed Saints

Lauren Gaspar is getting to show what she learned last summer in her two weeks at a tennis academy in Valencia, Spain.

Gaspar moved up to first-singles on Wednesday and won 6-0, 6-1 to lead Benet to a 5-2 girls tennis victory over visiting St. Charles East.

"My confidence has definitely improved from having played against girls from all over the world," said Gaspar. "My entire game has gotten better and I feel a lot stronger, especially in three-set matches. We played tennis six or seven hours a day and also did a lot of physical training."

Joyce Hanlon, who has been at first-singles for most of the season, filled the second slot Wednesday and won by the identical 6-0, 6-1 score. The two sophomores are of comparable ability and they're both comfortable at the top of the lineup.

"Lauren and Joyce are pushing each other in practice," said Benet coach Bob Comerford. "They're making each other better tennis players and they're making our. Lauren is more of a baseline player and Joyce likes to move up more, but they're both starting to show qualities of each other's game. That variety in their games is making them tougher against opponents."

"I was moving up on a lot more balls today," said Gaspar.

The Redwings (7-1) were also pleased with the work of their doubles lineup, as they took three of four matches, including a 3-6, 6-2 (10-5) win by Kelly Carney and Elissa Sledz at first-doubles.

"In the first set we were just getting used to them," said Sledz." "They were pounding us, hitting it deep and then putting it away."

"In the second set we calmed down," said Carney. "We were being more aggressive and scoring a lot off our volleys."

St. Charles East (4-3), which was without state-qualifier and first-singles Stephanie Youngberg, who sat out the meet with tendinitis, was victorious at third singles as three-sport athlete Lexi Baltes, won 6-3, 6-4 match over Rachel Gach and at second doubles, where Anne Mason and Megan Joyce outlasted Joan Apolinario and Nora Hanlon 6-7 (4), 6-2 (10-6).

"Benet was more aggressive than we were today," said St. Charles East coach Sena Drawer. "They did a lot of poaching and we made tons of unforced errors. The Benet kids were so active at the net that they took us off balance and forced us to hit a lot of long balls. They're a good team. We just got beat."

For Comerford, the victory was encouraging because it was another step in the steady improvement he's seeing as the season goes along.

"Our main goal is to be better every week and be playing our best tennis at the end of the season," Comerford said. "I see that happening with these girls. The doubles are getting really solid."

Third-doubles Molly Halligan and Hannah Bala won 6-4, 6-4 and fourth doubles Kathleen Allen and Kelly Dawson won 6-3, 6-2.