Stevenson's Bazarnik back on track

One week after falling just short of winning the singles title at the prestigious Pitchford 32, Blake Bazarnik returned to form Saturday afternoon when he captured an important championship trophy at the Deerfield Invite.

The Stevenson senior outlasted top-rated Robert Stineman of New Trier in a scintillating three-set marathon to earn the No. 1 singles title and likely solidify his place as the No. 1 seed in three weeks at the state tournament.

The Patriots finished fourth with 42 points and behind tourney champion New Trier (57), Deerfield (50) and Highland Park (47).

Bazarnik's victory completed a terrific day for North Suburban Conference tennis teams and players.

Prairie Division champion Vernon Hills swept a trio of duals at Niles North - while Warren left the courts leading its own invite over ESCC runner-up Carmel when rain suddenly ended the day. Play will resume on Monday at Antioch.

Bazarnik, who had lost to Stineman the first week of the season, opened his final against the talented Trevians junior with 6-3 first-set loss.

But the defending state champion Bazarnik came back to provide a glimpse of what is to come in the final weeks of the season, much to the delight of the Patriots captain as well as assistant coach Mark Linnenberger.

"That was class Blake out there today," said Linnenberger. "He hit some shots that were just amazing, shots that nobody can make like (he) can."

"Today I felt like I finally was playing with the intensity and energy that's been missing for most of the year," said the Vanderbilt-bound Bazarnik. "In that first set, Robert was just unbelievable, but (after) that, I began to hit my shots, work the points and got into the type of rhythm which helped carry me through in the last two sets."

Bazarzik finish two of several brilliant backhand volley in the second set to close out Stineman 6-2, then with a deft touch of a surgeon he won Game 5 of the third set to go up 3-2.

Stineman, who is bigger and stronger than a year ago with more first-serve pop than before, drew even at 3-3, then 4-4 after a pair of strong serving games - but he had no answer for another drop shot at the net that gave Bazarnik a 5-4 lead.

Bazarnik, who had injured his right ankle in the Pitchford 32 final against Stagg's Tim Kopinski, broke Stineman to win the match.

"My ankle felt (okay) today," Bazarnik said. "In fact, I heard it crack when I was on the run for a ball in my semifinal with (Jared) Hiltzik (of New Trier) and it felt even better after that."

At Niles North

Vernon Hills, behind No. 1 singles player Ismail Kadyrov and its top doubles team of Sam Rong and David Alfaro powered past Maine South, Loyola and the tourney host Vikings by identical 3-1 scores to capture the quad crown in Skokie.

Rong, who was part of the Cougars' No. 1 doubles team last season, combined with the junior Alvaro (No. 1 singles in 2009) to go 3-0 on the day.

Kadyrov (21-3) dropped his third and final match to his good friend David Bacala (7-5, 6-3) in a match between two of the finest freshman players in the area.

"When I first came here from Russia (when he was 11 years old), David was one of the players I met and we instantly became friends and someone who is also a great rival and competitor for me," said Kadyrov, who, has lost to stars Ben Hoogland of Glenbrook South and Wheaton St. Francis senior Kyle Dawson.

"I am really looking forward to my first conference tournament next week, then to sectionals, which is going to be very difficult, but challenging, for me and my teammates," Kadyrov said.

"(Ish)m although only a freshmen, has the ability to build points, with his all-around game, and he can wear you down several ways, either by keeping the ball in play, hitting a nice slice, or just coming with some heat," said Cougars coach Doug Gerber. "He does a great job of changing things up, just when you think you have him figured out, and he'll only get better because he's a great student of the game and is fun to coach."

Kadyrov, undefeated in the NSC this season although he has not faced Bazarnik, could be a top-4 seed this weekend at the NSC tournament, especially if he can grab a win when the Cougars face Libertyville on Monday.

"We hope to have a good showing at the tournament next week, and with the help of Kadyrov and our one (dubs) team, we have a chance to do so," Gerber said.