Girls tennis: Elgin freshman Krakowski takes sectional crown

Elgin's Marta Krakowski couldn't have written a much better script to her freshman season of high school tennis.

Krakowski continued her unbeaten streak in impressive fashion, rolling to the sectional singles championship with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Geneva junior Grace Krueger Saturday afternoon at St. Charles East.

"I stayed levelheaded and I didn't get mad at myself," said Krakowski, who is now 24-0 on the season. "It's definitely an honor getting to state. To win sectionals - that's amazing."

A high-level player on the USTA youth circuit, Krakowski reached the finals with a 6-1, 7-6 (3) semifinal victory over South Elgin senior Corinne Hildebrandt.

She has quickly made a believer of her senior teammate, Dahlia Keonavongsa, who earned her fourth consecutive state trip with a third-place sectional showing.

"I'm really happy for her," said Keonavongsa. "We help each other a lot in practices and before games. She has a great offensive game and she's really aggressive. It's really nice since it's my senior year and her freshman year."

The only thing that kept it from being an all-Elgin singles final was Keonavongsa's 1-6, 7-6 (6), 1-6 third-place loss to Krueger.

"The semifinal match was really tough but I'm happy with how I played," Keonavongsa said.

Krakowski, the Maroons' first sectional singles champion since Jacey Sirinit in 2010, credited Keonavongsa for her mentorship.

"She practices with me and gives me tips," said Krakowski. "I'm happy that I at least got a year with her."

Krueger, who earned her third state berth in as many seasons, was impressed with Krakowski's play.

"She made less unforced errors than I did and was hitting the winners," said Krueger.

Led by a 1-2 finish from its doubles teams, St. Charles North captured its first sectional crown in 5 years. The North Stars scored 24 points, topping runner-up Geneva (20) and third-place finishers Elgin and St. Charles East (17 each).

"As it unfolded, we were pretty excited to have that opportunity especially after losing by 1 last week in conference (for the overall title)," said North Stars coach Sean Masoncup.

Senior Emma Spellman and freshman Shelby Thomas edged senior teammates Morgan Rerko and Brittany Rohrsen, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, in the title match.

"It was hard because I played with them all four years," said Spellman. "I played with Morgan during the week and then with Shelby during weekends. It worked well with her at the baseline and me at the net."

"They've played only like 15 matches but they still haven't lost," Masoncup said of his 16-0 top doubles duo. "Both pairs complement each other very well. Shelby is very consistent and Emma is very strong at the net while Rohrsen is also consistent and Rerko is all over the net.

"Having three seniors, it was difficult to decide who to go with whom but in the end I think it turned out to be the right decision."

St. Charles East also qualified both of its doubles teams as seniors Paige Ackerman and Emily Sullivan defeated teammates Sonia Ost and Jenna Patzner 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 for third place.

"We're thrilled to have two teams going to state," said Saints coach Matt Bulman. "This is what their goal was all season and they achieved it. It's a victory lap for us now."

Entering the tourney as a 5-6 seed, Ost and Patzner edged Geneva's Madi Corda and Taylor Hayes 6-4, 7-6 (2) Friday to secure a state spot.

"On paper, they weren't supposed to beat the 3-4 team but they played awesome," said Bulman.