Northwest/ Scouting girls tennis sectionals
By Jonathan Jones
Daily Herald Correspondent
When and what: Through Friday and Saturday, the sectionals are held at 32 sites. The top four singles players and doubles teams from each sectional tournament advance to the state tournament next week.
At Rolling Meadows
Barrington
Top players: Seniors Kate Allison, Haley Mallon, Alia Nejdawi, Lucia Stumbras, Roshni Sharma and junior Zoe Kasiurak.
Outlook: Barrington is fresh off its 18th consecutive Mid-Suburban League title and seeks an eighth straight sectional under Tracy Waters-Miller. The Fillies’ doubles teams of No. 1 Kate Allison/Zoe Kasiurak (18-2) and No. 2 Alia Nejdawi/Haley Mallon (16-4) both took home the gold at the MSL tourney. No. 1 singles player Lucia Stumbras was a pleasant surprise by finishing second last week and Waters-Miller hopes Stumbras can qualify for state as a senior. Fillies No. 2 singles player Roshni Sharma took second in the tourney as well.
Coach’s comment: “We are ready for the state tournament series and feel we are peaking at the right time. Everybody counts now. As a team we will try and continue with our goal of tradition.”
Elk Grove
Top players: Seniors Kerry Trotter and Taylor Marquardt
Outlook: The Trotter/Marquardt tandem were a match away in the 2010 Schaumburg sectional from clinching a berth in the state tournament. In the Rolling Meadows sectional, Trotter/Marquardt has seen most of the competition and sees it as a difficult road. With 16 wins, the duo holds high hopes for a five or six seed because it would be the best-case scenario for them to advance to a shot at the state tourney.
Coach’s comment: “It’s a tough conference and a tough sectional,” said coach Kristen Harding. “We have to play the best tennis we can play. We can’t pay attention to Barrington, Conant or anyone else regardless of what they’re doing. We have to stay consistent and hope for the best. (Trotter/Marquardt) handle stress well.”
Conant
Top players: Senior Alex Bahadri and sophomore Natalia Migdal
Outlook: Conant finished in sixth place at the MSL. The Cougars seek the polished No. 1 singles player Bahadri (12-9) to possibly acquire a slot at the sectional. No. 2 singles player Migdal (9-3) began the season at doubles and has really shown progress through the year. Both Bahadri and Migdal concluded their conference brackets with third-place finishes.
Coach’s comment: “We did well in conference,” said Conant coach Jennifer Mogge. “Alex (Bahadri) is my stamina player, she just doesn’t get tired. Natalia (Migdal) is my power player. (Migdal) has made big improvements all year. I hope they all can learn from their losses and give 110 percent. I think Alex (Bahadri) can make it to state. (Bahadri) deserves it this year, and it’s the best shot we’ve had in a long time.”
Hoffman Estates
Top player: Sophomore Courtney Lang
Outlook: Lang won the MSL No. 1 singles title by defeating all of her opponents in two sets and she received a state tournament berth last year. She faltered to Lake Park’s Stephanie Lee in the sectional last year, but during a regular-season match Lang returned the favor to Lee, defeating her 6-1, 6-0.
Coach’s comment: “I thought that Courtney would do well this year, because of the way she played last year,” said Hoffman coach Greg Rouse. “I didn’t think that she would play as well as she has so far this year.”
Prospect
Top player: Senior Maggie Partridge
Outlook: Partridge qualified for state last year at doubles with Julie Hertrich (graduated). Partridge was 16-5 as No. 1 singles player this season and took fifth in the conference tourney.
Coach’s comment: “We want to compete and see what happens,” said Prospect coach Mike McColaugh. “We had hoped to finish in the top three in the MSL, but our girls competed hard and we finished (fourth) where we should have. (I tell the girls) do what you do best; Play to your strengths.”
Fremd
Top players: Seniors Shannon Segin and Maggie Lundholm
Outlook: Fremd notched a third-place finish in conference. Lundholm, who was a state qualifier last season, joins with Segin (who was injured last season). Lundholm/Segin (4-2 in MSL) completed the conference tournament with a fifth-place finish.
Coach’s comment: “For my one doubles it’s their last season, so I always encourage them to play their game without holding back,” said Fremd coach Lauren Hall. “The girls went above and beyond what I expected for conference. They’re peaking at the right time.”
Rolling Meadows
Top players: Sophomores Allie and Jackie Kemph
Outlook: The Kemphs (17-7) finished third in the MSL, defeating Hersey 6-0 and coming back from 0-3 to win the second set and match 6-4. The Mustangs finished conference at seventh place and look forward to the home court advantage for sectionals.
Coach’s comments: “In our sectional they have wins over Conant, Lake Park, Elk Grove, Prospect,” said Meadows coach Jim Gumz. “They have indirects (wins) over Schaumburg, Hoffman and Fremd. We are hoping for a top-four seed and believe we have a solid chance to qualify for the state meet.”
Schaumburg
Top players: Juniors Katie McClure and Jordan Parris
Outlook: McClure and Parris joined forces for sectionals to try and gain advancement to state. McClure (17-14) was at No. 1 singles this season while Parris played doubles. The Saxons see a slight advantage with a whole season of experience playing familiar foes in sectionals.
Coach’s comments: “We did not do as well as we would have liked, but we are also a young team and have another year to build upon this season,” said coach Jenn Limjoco-Kerr. “We’ve moved our one singles player, Katie McClure; into the doubles line-up which definitely makes that doubles team stronger. We’re hoping that improves their chances of qualifying (for state).”
At Stevenson
Buffalo Grove
Top players: Juniors Dana and Lauren Goggin
Outlook: The Goggin sisters are two-time state qualifiers in the state tournament and last year finished state at the 24-32 position. Buffalo Grove won the MSL East and finished 2 points shy of unseating Barrington for the league title. The Bison have dual match experience with all of the competing teams except Vernon Hills and Wauconda. BG No. 2 doubles team junior Tori Rubenstein/senior Lauren Dorfey were runner-ups in their bracket.
Coach’s comments: “You have to treat these matches like the other 25 or so matches that you played earlier in the season, even though your season is essentially do or die,” said BG coach Kevin Schrammel. “I was very proud with the work ethic and ability to compete at all positions, we left it all on the court and came up just short, placing second in conference. All you can do is put it all out there and see how far it gets you.”
Hersey
Top players: Seniors Olivia Hirt and Megan Boyle
Outlook: Hersey took fifth in the MSL tournament and seeks a strong seeding spot for Hirt/Boyle (10-13). Hersey has experience against some of the top teams in the area and in the sectional. Hirt/Boyle grabbed a fourth place finish in the MSL tournament.
Coach’s comments: “We have the same expectations as we did during the season,” said coach Sharon Meintzer. “Just play your hardest and try to outsmart your opponent. Do your best to represent our school and this great sport.”
St. Viator
Top players: Senior Katie Calmeyn and freshman Sabina Raslawski
Outlook: Calmeyn and Raslawski have improved vastly over the season and they hope for good draws. Raslawski played a stellar dual match against Palatine sophomore Karla Robles but fell in three sets.
Coach’s comments: “I hope they get a decent draw,” said St. Viator coach Dan Tripamer. “There a lot of tough teams in this sectional. (Calmeyn and Raslawski) have very good skills, and both have won matches solely on their athletic ability. (Calmeyn and Raslawski) are great competitors.”
Palatine
Outlook: Palatine finished eighth in conference and fourth in the MSL West.
Coach’s comments: “We’re in a very difficult sectional,” said Palatine coach Anita Lee. “I’m confident my girls will give it their all. They have a great draw for the first round. They have nothing to lose. I anticipate they will have some great matches.”
At York
Leyden
Top players: Seniors Christina Cervantes, Adriana Sanchez and No. 1 singles player Iva Simenova
Outlook: Leyden recorded a third place finish in the West Suburban Conference. The Eagles’ No. 1 doubles team Sanchez/Cervantes (16-8) hope for a high seeding. Cervantes/Sanchez pushed some of the best teams in conference to three sets. Leyden IHSA tennis Hall of Fame coach Bob Smith felt their final dual match win against Walther Lutheran was one of the best matches he’d seen all year.
Coach’s comment: “We have to stay positive,” Smith said. “We know that it’s one and done and you’re packing. In preparation this week it’s a whole new dynamic because we get to work on more individual work. Iva (Simenova) will have to play above her game to qualify. York and Fenwick are both good teams, and it’s always tough to qualify.”
At Highland Park
Outlook: Wheeling No. 1 senior singles player Dani Bitout registered a fourth-place MSL finish during a tight two-set match to Conant’s Alex Bahadri 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. The Wildcats finished in ninth as a team.