Rosary strong at the top
This season's Rosary girls tennis team begins every match with a significant advantage.
It can be found at the top of the singles lineup, where Emily Reuland at No. 1 and Elizabeth Vertin at Mo. 2 have lost just one match between them.
The Royals' strength at the top was evident Saturday as they swept the West Aurora Quad.
"We haven't beaten West Aurora in a very long time, and I don't how long it's been since Rosary won this quad, but it's been a while, so it was really nice today," Rosary coach John Tsang said.
Reuland (19-1) started her day with a 6-1, 6-2 win over West Aurora 's Brooke Henry.
"We are really good friends and we play all the time," Reuland said. "I knew what to expect."
The Royals beat the Blackhawks 4-3 in the team competition thanks to straight set singles wins by Vertin and Kerry Zepeda, and another by Angelina Goheen and Katie King at No. 1 doubles.
"Rosary is very tough, and we knew our depth would have to win it for us, and almost did," West Aurora coach Brian Brooks said.
Vertin continued her impressive play in Rosary's 5-2 second round win over IMSA, beating Abby Chao, 6-1, 6-3.
"That match was a challenge because I practice with (Chao)," Vertin said. "It's always a little different when you play against your friends."
The Royals (14-5-1) capped their day by riding a sweep of singles matches to beat Rockford Boylan, 5-2.
"Our singles have been very strong, so the focus all year has been on making sure our doubles are getting better," Tsang said.
The Blackhawks rallied after losing that tough opener to Rosary, routing Rockford Boylan 6-1 in round 2.
"Boylan is usually one of the tougher teams in the Rockford area, so we like to have them come down here," Brooks said.
Brooke Henry made fast work of Maria Dansdill, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, Shelby Gustilo got past Kristin Kaderbeck, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2, while freshman Jin Lee easily won her third singles match against Sara Diemer, 6-0, 6-0.
"Jin Lee is athletic, and she's getting better fast," Brooks said.
Nicole Maenzia completed West Aurora 's singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Janna Shold.
West Aurora junior Christina Ruddy had as good and as varied a day as anyone at the quad. After teaming up with Anne Sweeney to win her first match of the day against Rosary, Ruddy partnered with Kristen Holmes to beat Rockford Boylan's Katy Kurilla and Claire Minnaert, 6-3, 6-3.
Ruddy closed out the quad by teaming with Kaitlyn Burgess, her third different doubles partner of the day, to beat IMSA's Anita Parikh and Lauraleigh Heffner, 2-6, 6-4, 10-6.
"(Ruddy) communicates so well, she's instant chemistry," Brooks said. "Whoever I put her with, she gets them going,"
The Blackhawks needed every win they got in that final match against neighboring IMSA, and sophomore Ariana Rieser provided the clincher, beating Nicole Runkle, 6-2, 6-2.
"I'm constantly psyching myself up to win," Rieser said. "I really had to focus on winning the last two games in that last match."