Girls tennis: Benet takes home the crown at Rolling Meadows
Glenbard West entered Saturday's girls tennis tournament at Rolling Meadows looking to notch a three-peat with another piece of Mustang Invitational hardware.
But Benet Academy had other plans as it bested the field with 51 points, boasting four flights with top-four finishers. Glenbard West finished second with 48 points, while Fremd took third 41.
The format of the Mustang Invite mirrors the format of the IHSA state tournament, where the top singles and doubles teams could inevitably compete against teammates. A standard invitational matches up each level of the player on the roster to play comparable competition in their own separate flights.
Ever since the IHSA split the state tournament into two classes in the 2016-17 season, Benet has bounced between Class 1A and 2A. Benet moves back to 1A in this year's installment of the state series. The last time the Redwings played in 1A, they took home a state title.
"(The Mustangs Invite) helps because it gives the No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles a chance to see tougher competition," said Benet coach Michael Hand. "It's a good preparation for ramping it up and getting into conference, sectionals and state.
"We're trying to get as many qualified (for state) as we can. You don't prepare a whole lot differently. We've seen different schools, but we've only seen Wheaton Academy at the 1A level. The players are good no matter what class you're in."
Benet player Daniella Nenadovich netted a title in the singles tree Saturday. The No. 1 seeded junior in the singles bracket recorded wins against Schaumburg senior Jades Luu (6-0, 6-0), Lake Zurich junior Abby DeGustino (6-0, 6-1), Glenbard West sophomore Elizabeth Fausey (6-4, 6-2) and in the final over St. Viator freshman Maia Nowicki (6-2, 6-4).
Nenadovich and Nowicki are no strangers. The two faced off in a dual match on Friday where Nenadovich won 6-0, 6-1. However, Nowicki nearly pushed the Benet two-time state qualifying junior to a three-setter Saturday but Nenadovich was able to close out.
"This (tournament) prepares you for the grind," Nenadovich said. "(Nowicki) didn't play as well as she did (Friday compared to Saturday). She was making more balls and played more aggressive (Saturday). Instead of me trying to hit winners every point, I had to build a point and stay patient. I had to let her give me an opportunity. I swear I thought (Nowicki) was a senior the way she plays, but she's only a freshman. She played so well.
"This state tournament is going to be different (from the prior two seasons). I'm used to the players in the 2A tournament. I don't really know who I'll be playing against during sectionals. I'm a little nervous but we've been playing really well this season."
Benet showcased strong performances from medalists like Kaitlyn Lee/Butler University-bound Kendall Schrader (second place) and a solo act at No. 2 singles with Caroline Austgen (fourth-place finish).
In the doubles flight, the Glenbard West sister tandem of Sienna and Shannele Lopez took home first-place honors. The sisters registered wins against Allison Jodoin/Grace Zimmerman of St. Viator 6-0, 6-0, the Fremd twosome of April Wu/Valentina Betancourt 6-0, 6-2, a 6-0, 6-1 victory over the Ottawa duo of Regan O'Fallon/Ella Marvel and a 6-2, 6-4 title decision against Schrader/Lee.
"We've played against (Schrader/Lee) a few times before," Sienna Lopez said. "It was kind of rough at first, but we got used to them. We had to change up our style of play against them and that's how we were able to win the set."
Sienna Lopez is a three-time state qualifier and registered a sectional championship (ironically over her sister) in 2018. In her Hilltopper tenure, Sienna cracked the top 16 players in the state in 2016. Her sophomore and junior years, she completed her campaigns with top eight player status. Shannele also finished in the top eight in her freshman year playing solo, and the sisters willed Glenbard West to a fifth-place team finish.
In Sienna's senior year, the sisters teamed up to cap off the elder sister's illustrious career at Glenbard West. The two hope to finish in the top four on the doubles flight at the state tournament this year.
"This season means a lot to me," Sienna said. "This year I wanted to do something different. I'm glad that my sister can play with me in my last year. I'm glad to play doubles with (Shannele). The (team) has been really great. We have girls like Emma (Chirila) and Ashley (Samuta) that have played really well all year long. I grew up with these coaches, and they've taught me a lot and made me who I am today."
Other medalists Saturday included St. Viator's Nowicki (second place), the Glenbard West doubles team of Chirila/Samuta (third place), Glenbard West's Faucey (third place) and the Ottawa tandem of O'Fallon/Marvel (fourth place).