CL South duo only area players alive at state

The Crystal Lake South doubles tandem of Abbey Kolarczyk-Stephanie Brunetti became the lone Fox Valley area representatives to advance into today's competition at the IHSA state meet Thursday.

The Gators' team booked a pair of wins, beating Highland Park's Diana Levy-Emily Tresley (1-6, 6-3, 6-4) and Leah Sibener-Leslie Sibener of Chicago University (6-4, 6-2) before falling to Heather Esker-Kelly Jansen of Effingham St. Anthony.

Kolarczyk-Brunetti will resume action today against Jane Dixon-Olivia Rosen of Springfield at Conant in the fourth round of the consolation bracket.

Their Gator teammates, Leana Semchuk-Laura Roesslein, opened state play with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over a Shepard duo, but concluded the day with a pair of losses.

Jacobs sent singles player Jen Ruther to the show along with doubles teams Heather Graham-Aimee Neilan and Kellie Stoka-Melissa Blunk. Ruther defeated Alysson Marique of Centralia flawlessly (6-0, 6-0) to start the day, fell to Annie Sullivan of Woodlands Academy and later beat Maine South's Haley O'Connor (6-4, 6-3). In Round 3 consolation play, Ruther completed her high school campaign with a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Jackie Altansarnai of Plainfield North.

Graham-Neilan and Stoka-Blunk each collected single wins before being eliminated.

Alle Ballister was the lone state representative from Dundee-Crown. Ballister went out quietly following two tough losses as did Heather Nieman of Huntley. Cary-Grove's Beth Hughes opened with a loss, but beat Paige Roytek of Mattoon 6-4, 6-1 before being eliminated.

Bianca Swegler of Elgin Academy swiped a 6-4, 6-4 win from Liz Stachnik of Oak Forest before succumbing to elimination in Round 2 of consolation play.

South Elgin saw single wins from its doubles representatives, Lauren Ferry-Dana Hildebrandt and Nesa Saeng-Brittany Boelter. Ferry-Hildebrandt opened state play with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Edwardsville's Jordan Myers-Shannon Colligan before dropping the next two.