Freshman Meyers helps put Neuqua back on top
Enough already.
That seemed to be what was going through the mind of Neuqua Valley's Emily Meyers after five consecutive service breaks had her serving at 5-4 in a battle with St. Charles East's Stefanie Youngberg in the first-singles title match at the Upstate Eight Conference meet in St. Charles.
Meyers, a talented freshman with just two nonconference losses all year, put an end to the break streak by rifling off a trio of big serves that Youngberg could not handle as the Wildcat claimed the game - and the set at 6-4. Meyers then took the second set 6-1 to take home top individual honors and play a key role in Neuqua Valley's ninth league title in 10 years.
"It was my serving in the first set," said Meyers, who will take a 27-2 record into next week's sectional play at Neuqua. "It was like I was not really putting a lot of energy into it. After I finished (the first set) off I relaxed a lot and started to play my game."
Youngberg, who had dropped a three-setter to Meyers in the regular season, admitted to being somewhat frustrated with her own serving in the first set. But, she added, it was nice to be able to break Meyers' serve a few times to stay in the match.
"I was like, 'OK, this is going to be fun,' once we both started to lose our serves," said Youngberg, who notched her 100th varsity victory for the Saints on Friday. "It's frustrating at first when you get broken, but then you have to pretty much focus and say now it's my turn to break."
Neuqua Valley, which suffered a tight loss to St. Charles North at last year's league finals, entered this weekend's action in first place in the UEC standings and added to its margin with a big weekend. Robin Harland won the No. 3 singles crown and Natalie Peters was second at No. 2 to the North Stars' Liselot Koenen, who didn't drop a set on her way to the crown.
In doubles play the North Stars' No. 1 team of Jenna Bell and Alecia Natale edged the Wildcats' Nisha Garg and Lauren Silva 7-5, 7-5 in the finals, but Neuqua showed its depth in claiming first place in the three other doubles matches, including a 6-1, 6-1 triumph by Jasmine Kayvani and Alexa Geist over Waubonsie Valley's Bonnie Lin and Katie Westlake.
"They're all appreciated," Neuqua coach Trudy Bennorth said of her team's many championships. "But this one is more appreciated after last year. The team just did a great job and they're a fun, great group of girls."
For Bell and Natale, the finals defeat of Neuqua was sweet. The pair had won a conference doubles title last year at No. 2, but this year they had lost to the Wildcats in the regular season.
"Oh my gosh, they were a very good team," said Natale, who faced a different Wildcats team in the regular-season dual meet. "This win is a confidence boost, especially against a good team like Neuqua."
Bell added: "I think we both played well. It was very exciting. I can't describe it. We wanted to win really bad but we knew we might get beat. I'm so happy."