Girls tennis, Mid-Suburban preview

MSL EAST

Buffalo Grove

Coach: Kevin Schrammel

Season record: 10-4 (8-0 MSL)

Players to watch: No. 1 singles senior Nell Boyd (17-5), no.2 singles senior Ali Wieland (15-8), no. 1 doubles sophomore team Dana and Lauren Goggin (16-7) and no. 2 doubles team senior Susan Dote and junior Kristen Immen (15-8)

Sectional location: Stevenson

Outlook: After winning the MSL East with an undefeated record, the Bison look for a first place finish in the conference tournament. With many underclassmen stepping up onto the varsity team, the Bison exceeded expectations that head coach Schrammel set for the girls this season.

Coach's comment: “We have a variety of positions stepping up and getting a tough win somewhere in the line-up, Schrammel said. “Each year our goal is to beat Barrington, they are obviously very talented. If we are going to do, it we can't afford any let downs. Everyone will need to play their best tennis of the season.

Hersey

Coach: Sharon Meintzer

Season record: 4-10 (3-5 MSL)

Players to watch: No. 1 singles Jen Hall; No. 3 doubles team Laura Dubnicka/Patricia Lis 7-6 (4-1 MSL)

Sectional location: Stevenson

Outlook: With Meintzer completing her first year of coaching varsity, she is drilling fundamentals in preparation for the three-day tournament to the Huskies. No. 3 singles senior Josie Calabrese has displayed a vast improvement over her four-year tenure and has a possibility of breaking into the top half in singles play, according to Meintzer.

Coach's comment: “We are the underdog for this tournament and we have a “nothing to lose attitude, Meintzer said. “We do lots of game simulated drills with pressure aspects to get them focused and realizing it is “do or die at this point of the season. They get very competitive at practice and cheer each other on.

Rolling Meadows

Coach: Jim Gumz

Season record: 9-9 (4-1 MSL)

Players to watch: No.1 doubles team freshman Jackie Kemph and senior Sara Shumaker (14-6), No. 2 doubles freshman Allie Kemph and senior Matayka (14-9), No. 3 doubles team sophomore Megan Horan and senior Kayla Mueller (14-9) and No. 4 doubles sophomore Sarah Bohac and senior Catherine Cantieri (9-6)

Sectional location: Schaumburg

Outlook: The Mustangs exceeded coach Gumz expectations, as the team stars many underclassmen. The Mustangs registered a second place in the MSL East being the youngest team in the conference.

Coach's comment: “We take one day at a time & do not look ahead, Gumz said. “The weather didn't really hinder our progress or improvement. We adjusted very well. Our overall goal is to defend our second place finish in the MSL East with a top four placement in the conference meet.

Prospect

Coach: Karie McClure

Season record: 5-2 MSL 3-2 MSL East

Players to watch: No. 2 singles senior Mary Clare Rosemeyer (8-0 MSL), no. 3 singles sophomore Jordan Pollock (7-1 in MSL), No. 1 juniors double team Lauren Nopar and Laura Dietrich (5-0 in MSL East)

Sectional location: Schaumburg

Outlook: The singles and doubles team mentioned in the players to watch have received bye rounds based on their play during the season. McClure hopes to have some of her players qualify for the state tournament in which the Knights hold at their home court.

Coach's comment: “We want to leave everything we have on the court, McClure said. “(We want to) make our school proud. We would like to finish in the top three. (This) would be very respectable in a 12-team field.

Wheeling

Coach: Jim Christopher

Season record: 7-10 (0-5)

Players to watch: Natalie Tunas, Leah Valenci and Dani Bitout

Sectional location: Highland Park

Outlook: Christopher feels that the kids are doing an outstanding job. There were a number of matches by the Wildcats that were lost 4-3 that they wish they could have back. With the doubles teams struggling, Christopher looks for the singles players to capitalize in the three-day melee.

Coach's comment: “This week we've worked more on individual skills to get back to the basics, Christopher said. “I've talked with the girls about goals and I want to finish as high as we can. I hope to have a couple kids try to medal this weekend if we can.

Elk Grove

Coach: Kristen Harding

Players to watch: Seniors Dagmara Rodak and Kim Scharz; junior Kerry Trotter

MSL WEST

Barrington

Coach: Tracy Waters-Miller

Season record: (18-5) (5-0)

Players to watch: No. 1 singles Kristy Dodge and No. 1 doubles team Heather Ciskowski and Zoe Kasuriak

Sectional location: Schaumburg

Outlook: The Fillies aspire to improve their MSL Conference winning streak at 16 consecutive years. With the exceptional team meshing, and the play of Kristy Dodge who is ranked fourth in the state in singles play, the Fillies feel they can once again make noise passed the Conference tournament. The Fillies finished fourth in the state finals last season behind Hinsdale Central, Deerfield and Lake Forest.

Coach's comment: “(We need to) take each match seriously, Waters-Miller said. “(Our overall expectation) is to play our best tennis, continue with our pride and commitment to our school and team.

Fremd

Coach: Lauren Hall

Season record: 4-4 (2-3)

Players to watch: No. 4 doubles team sophomore Courtney Norenberg and junior Jessie Jorgensen (7-1 MSL record)

Sectional location: Schaumburg

Outlook: The Vikings have exceeded expectations that first-year coach Hall set. No. 1 singles player junior Shannon Segin will sit for the remainder of the season as she has torn a ligament in her leg.

Coach's comment: “(To prepare we) set goals, work on what we have been the whole season and match play, Hall said. “(The goal for conference is) to place above some of the schools we have tough matches against in the duals.

Palatine

Coach: Anita Lee

Season record: 3-5

Players to watch: No 1. single senior Tricia Walker (1-8) No. 2 senior doubles team Jenna Herr and Laura Pettersen (4-1)

Sectional location: Stevenson

Outlook: The Pirates played very competitively in dual meets. Herr injured herself earlier in the season, but has returned and been lucrative for the team alongside Pettersen.

Coach's comment: “They are eager to improve, work hard, and they love to have fun, Lee said. “They are truly a team. (Our overall goal) is to finish in the top half of conference.

Conant

Coach: Jennifer Mogge

Season record: 8-2

Players to watch: No. 1 doubles seniors Alexis Sommer and Dana Lindquist 11-10 (6- 2), No. 2 doubles freshman Natalia Migdal and senior Erika Kranz 10-5 (4-3), and No. 3 single junior Alex Bahadri 8-0 in conference.

Sectional location: Schaumburg

Outlook: The Cougars made many coaching changes this season due to conflict of schedule. Mogge is proud of the way her girls managed the changes. The team has a comfortable meshing with one and other, and is pushing to make some noise in the conference tournament.

Coach's comment: (Our overall goal is) For us all to do our best and the outcome we want will be there, Mogge said. “I just encourage the girls to use all they have learned throughout the season and pull it together for one last team effort. We have really grown and worked hard I want that to shine through this weekend.

Hoffman Estates

Coach: Greg Rouse

Season record: 5-7 (2-3)

Players to watch: No. 1 single freshman Courtney Lang 7-1 (5-0) and no. 2 single senior Amrutha Bahatt 6-1 (5-0)

Sectional location: Schaumburg

Outlook: The Hawks exceeded expectations of coach Rouse. The no. 1 and 2 single players went undefeated in the MSL West matches. Rouse looks to his doubles to have a good tournament. The Hawks host the event, and feel they have a little advantage for the conference tournament this season.

Coach's comment: “The doubles have had a little tough time dealing with things, Rouse said. “The number one doubles team is the only team that's been playing for a while. I'd like to see the singles have a chance to advance. Last year we had a tough time playing and moving on. We're looking to improve further than we did last year.

Schaumburg

Coach: Jason Campbell

Players to watch: Sophomores Monica Lin, Katie McClure; seniors Claire Light, Suhki Sandhu

Outlook: Monica Lin returns to the Saxons after flirting with not playing this year due to her national playing schedule. After the Rolling Meadows Invite, No. 1 singles player Lin was 11-2. According to Campbell at the Rolling Meadows Invite, he feels the Saxons are peaking at the right time and it is paying benefits at this time of year.