Scouting DuPage County girls tennis
Top teams: Benet, Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central, Naperville North, Naperville Central,
Top players: Benet: Madeline Carney, jr.; Mary Beth King, so.; Cassie Kovach, jr.; Daniella Reyes, so. Kim Simmons, jr.; Leah Tzakis, fr.; Downers Grove North: Zara Kisielius, sr.; Downers Grove South: Vicky Andronova, so Chelsea Lavin, sr.; Atene Poskute, fr.; Glenbard East: Hannah Geoffrey, jr.; Glenbard South: Olivia Bouchard, sr.; Ashley Rettger, sr. Glenbard West: Hannah Foth, jr.; Molly Hennessey, so.; Meredith Maltby, jr.; Maddie Morris, jr.; Samantha Reedy, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Jennifer Bush, sr.; Kristy Hamilton, jr.; Jackie Jargl, jr. Caroline Lorenzini, so,; jr.; Julia Quintero: sr.; Hinsdale South: Emma Adcock, so.; Sahana Rajanahally, so. Andrea Wakim, so.; Kim Warpecha, jr. Lake Park: Stephanie Lee, jr. Metea Valley: Kelsey Chin, so.; Naperville Central: Meghan Griffin, sr.; Cindy Liu, fr.; Maria Mihailescu, so.; So.; Sonia Nilakhe, sr.; Naperville North: Julia Li, fr.; Karen Lui, so.; Deepthi Ramachandran, sr.; Kamile Stadalninkaite, so.; Neuqua Valley: Alexa Geist, sr.; Riti Vohra, fr.; St. Francis: Emily Jagielo, sr. Waubonsie Valley: Jenna Eisses, sr.; Wheaton Academy Emmie Chan, jr.; Lexi Welton, fr.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Keisha Clousing, fr.; York: Maria Avgerinos, so.; Torrie Graham, jr.; Shelby Kost, sr.
Scouting report: Benet coach Bob Comerford expects to follow up last year's undefeated record with another banner season. Kovach is one of the best first singles in the area, and Carney and Simmons, who have won consistently at second doubles, are more than ready to move into the spotlight. King and Reyes, two impact freshmen, are now a team and give the Redwings the strength at second doubles Comerford's come to expect. Tzakis is a great freshman.
Barring any surprises, the battle for DuPage Valley Conference supremacy should come down to the two Napervilles. The Huskies won it last year with an inexperienced team that was put together for the conference schedule. However, they were lacking in the nonconference matches and coach Heather Henricksen has made some adjustments that will make them ready for weekend play. The Redhawks welcome back veteran first-doubles Griffin, the much-improved Mihailescu and add a talented freshman in Liu, but the big news is that Nilakhe, who missed almost all of last season, will be returning to the lineup, giving the team a veteran presence and another top-flight hand.
Wheaton Warrenville South is celebrating the long-awaited arrival of coach Patti Clousing's daughter Keisha, who is one of the top players in the country for her age. But the team is short on experience and is depending on the steady improvement of its young troops to make a showing at the end of the season. Glenbard East has a cast of experienced players led by Geoffrey, so coach Bill Burt has his eyes on a rise to the first division. The Rams will probably be battling Wheaton North for that first-division spot.
In the Upstate Eight Conference perennial champion Neuqua Valley isn't as strong going into the season as it has been because two players at the top of the lineup decided not to play high school tennis this year. It will be interesting to watch the Wildcats progress as the girls lower on the depth chart move into new roles. "We have talent," said coach Trudy Bennorth. "It's just a matter of the girls getting confidence competing at the highest levels." Waubonsie Valley is young, but coach Phil Galow believes there's a promising future for his gang of freshmen and sophomores. He loves the team's work ethic and enthusiasm and hopes that will help many of the girls arrive earlier than he originally expected.
Downers Grove South lost a lot, including Jenny Hois to graduation. Hinsdale South, with a new coach, Dana Graczyk is poised to go after the West Suburban Gold crown.
Glenbard West would be a preseason favorite in many other conferences with outstanding people like Maltby, Hennessy and Reedy leading the team. But, alas, there's always those two state powers, Hinsdale Central and Lyons Twp., to contend with.
York is strong with Avgerinos at the head of the lineup, but the Dukes shouldn't threaten the Hilltoppers, LT or Hinsdale Central.
And what about Hinsdale Central?
Former assistant coach Robin Kramer takes over for the retired Jerilyn Scardina, who brought the Red Devils four state titles in a row. The three All-Americas who have led them to this streak are gone, but there's still plenty left in the cupboard. Quintero and Hamilton went far into the state tournament on separate doubles teams, Lorenzini barely missed the state lineup and Bush should make state this time around. Jargl, a transfer, is a former state qualifier. "Our goal is the same as it is every year," Kramer said. "We want t take care of business by winning conference and sectionals and getting all six to state."
Wheaton Academy has a pair of quality newcomers who make the Warriors the favorite in the Suburban Christian Conference, while St. Francis is rebuilding on the fly and hoping to challenge.
Key dates: Sept. 4: Downers Grove South 16 Team Dual Invite; Sept. 11: Waubonsie Valley Invite; Oct. 9: conference meets; Oct. 15-16: sectional meets: Oct. 21-23: state meet.