Duo's state run comes to end

After the first set in Friday's backdraw match Glenbard West's Amanda Schwartz and Ashlyn Selzer had every reason to believe they were on their way to advancing to Saturday play in the state tournament consolation bracket.

They were magnificent in that set, winning 6-1, showing no ill effects from the 5½-hour wait since their last match, and dominating a team they had beaten before in straight sets.

But in a classic example "it ain't over till it's over," Lincoln-Way East's Michelle Perry and Liz Exo turned the match around and won the next two sets 6-3, 6-2 to end what had been a spectacular senior year for the Hilltoppers duo.

"When you start thinking about stuff it creeps into the game," said Glenbard West coach Rob White. "The first set Amanda and Ashlyn played fearlessly. In the second set they started thinking and not playing as aggressive. If you don't play aggressively at this level, you're not going to convert your opportunities into points and, eventually, the other team will."

After Perry and Exo lost that first set so decisively, Lincoln-Way East coach Chris Olson knew that they could come back if they were just patient.

"I told them we can turn it around if could just get a couple of games on the board early in the second set," Olson said. "We had tried the power game early and that didn't work. So we started to do more chipping and charging, with short-angle volleys."

Olson said the win makes it the first time a Lincoln-Way East team has advanced to play today.

"This win is huge for us," he said. "It shows you what heart and determination can do. It was a phenomenal match."

White expressed the disappointment felt by his doubles team after the loss.

"It's always disappointing when you go out by losing your last match," White said. "Especially when you get this far in the tournament and you don't play the way you know that you can."

The loss brings to an end the outstanding high school tennis careers of Schwartz and Selzer, both three-time state qualifiers, the past two years as partners, this year making it to the Round of 16 in the championship bracket

"As a doubles team, Amanda and Ashlyn complement each other well," White said. "Amanda is the fiery one who always tries to get them in high gear. Ashlyn is a little more even-keeled with more of a power game. They do a great job of picking each other up on the course."

In the main draw Downers Grove South's Katie Kargl and Hinsdale Central's Hanna Mar advanced to today's singles semifinals, while the Red Devils' doubles teams of Courtney Dolehide and Nida Hamilton, the defending state champions, and Emily Lombardi and Alex Tapak also moved into the final four.

Hinsdale Central, which has 44 team points, well ahead of second-place Downers Grove South's 25, has its second consecutive state title wrapped up.