PR sweeps to 4th straight FVC crown
Prairie Ridge figured to have a solid team in 2007 with the likes of Jackie and Julie Schwartz along with Emily Murphy and Laura Curran returning.
Mix in freshman phenoms Allison Murphy and Carolyn Huerth and you not only have a Fox Valley Conference powerhouse but a team capable of making some noise at the state meet.
Winning championships in all seven events, the Wolves tallied a perfect score of 89 to go with 74 points accumulated during the Fox Valley Conference dual meet season, and easily claimed their fourth straight league title with a total of 163 points Saturday.
"We knew we had a real good team back, but we weren't sure how good the freshmen would be," said PR coach Jessica Fetzner. "Both Allison and Carolyn have been outstanding and we have had great leadership from our seniors Laura Curran and Emily Murphy. We have never swept all seven championships in the conference meet.
"Give the girls credit. These girls push each other and want each other to do well. This is a fun team to coach."
Allison Murphy, who was seeded third in No. 1 singles, upset No. 2 seed Nellie Youel of Crystal Lake Central 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals and stunned top-seeded Annie Smith of Jacobs 6-3, 6-3 in the title match.
"I just try to play hard and find weaknesses," said Murphy. "I went for shots when I could. It was pretty hard with the heat."
Smith praised Murphy's play.
"I was ready to go but she doesn't have any weaknesses," said Smith. "She hit every shot so well. She is a very good player."
Huerth, who was the top seed at No. 2 singles, lived up to her billing, defeating Jen Ruther of Jacobs in the championship match 6-2, 6-0.
No. 3 singles player Tessa Johnson, who was seeded third, upset second-seeded Stephanie Brunetti of Crystal Lake South 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the semifinals and knocked off top-seeded Marlena Aleksiejczyk of Jacobs 6-3, 6-4 in the title match.
PR, which was top seeded in all 4 doubles events, won all 4 titles.
Top doubles players Jackie and Julie Schwartz defeated Jennifer Maruyama-Laura Roesslein of Crystal Lake South in the championship match 6-2, 6-4.
"I enjoy playing doubles with my sister," said Jackie Schwartz. "It is a lot of fun."
Said Julie Schwartz: "We are playing well together. We communicate well."
Curran-Emily Murphy won the championship at No. 2 doubles, beating Amy Ross-Kaitlin Voss of Crystal Lake South 6-4, 6-1 in the title match.
The Wolves' third doubles team of Lauren Nissen-Maggie Peters rolled to the title with a 6-1, 6-1 win over South's duo of Katelyn Czernek-Maryann Piel.
PR's fourth doubles team of Elizabeth Manno-Carrie Keahl completed the sweep by beating South's duo of Rachel Boorom-Caitlin Grow 6-2, 6-2 in the championship match.
South, which finished second in all doubles events, placed second with a score of 135.
In singles play, Brunetti was third at No. 3 and Abbey Kolarczyk placed fourth at No. 2.
Crystal Lake Central was third with a score of 124 points while Jacobs placed fourth with a score of 123.
The Golden Eagles, who received second place efforts from Smith, Ruther and Aleksiejczyk in singles action, got a third-place finish from the No. 4 doubles team of Emily Hookom-Aly Popp.