Girls tennis: New Trier edges Stevenson for Buffalo Grove title

Some of the sights and sounds at Saturday’s Buffalo Grove 32 girls tennis invite included cranes in the air and the occasional beep-beep-beep of loaders in reverse while transporting materials.

Phase 2 of the high school’s sprawling Athletic Fields Renovation Plan continued in summery conditions.

Talented and savvy tennis players, meanwhile, constructed points in a variety of ways across the plan’s 10 new courts to put themselves in the best position to either wear out their foes or hammer resounding winners.

Oak Park-River Forest junior Lucy Stein, seeded 1-2, and Libertyville junior Yuki Dogadalski, seeded 3-4, faced off in the No. 1 singles final, and each standout groundstroker executed the same match plan — mix things up in mid-point by rolling heavy-topspin, high shots and then wait for the opportunity to either rush the net or crush a flat groundstroke to finish the point.

Down 2-0 before sprinkles and lightning in the area triggered an hour-plus delay, Stein returned to the court and earned every bit of her 6-3, 6-2 victory.

“I wanted the rallies to last longer because the last time I played her I was going for too much and missing my shots,” said Stein of her loss to the Wildcat more than a year ago. “I had to be consistent and trust myself against such a consistent and good player like Yuki.”

New Trier edged Stevenson 60-58 for the team title at the two-day, four-flight event featuring the state’s top Class 2A programs. Stevenson had defeated New Trier 6-3 in a dual held at Edwardsville earlier this month.

“We’ve been focusing on energy and effort and coming together as a team,” said Stevenson coach Izzy Balase, who received a championship effort from his No. 2 doubles team (top-seeded Emma Iwanowski/Klaudia Jaworski), a runner-up effort from senior Kriti Mohan (No. 2 singles) and a fourth-place effort from his No. 1 doubles team (Ana Sukovic/Emma Blass) on Saturday.

“And we’re trying to keep things in perspective,” he added. “We don’t want to overanalyze things; instead, we want to embrace moments, even the hard ones, because that’s how you grow as a team and as an individual.”

Iwanowski/Jaworski put together a dominant run in the No. 2 doubles flight, losing only a combined 7 games in 5 matches and defeating a New Trier pair 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

Hinsdale Central, which tied Glenbrook North for third place with 48 points, was paced by its top doubles team of Lauren Panveno/Sophia Virmani, who downed a Highland Park duo 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles championship after surviving a 6-7 (5), 7-5, (10-6 super breaker) semifinal against NT’s entrant.

The Red Devils were two games away (while facing a 4-1 deficit in the second set) from having to battle for third place.

“Lauren hit some really big serves (vs. HP), giving us many free points, and Sophia provided steady play with her groundstrokes,” said HC coach Shawna Zsinko. “But what helped them most in the final was entering it feeling good about that big win in the semi.”

Conant emerged as the top Mid-Suburban League crew at the 32-team gathering, finishing a strong fifth with 42 points behind a pair of top-five results in doubles: Noelle Koh/Thea Krachmarov (4th, No. 2) and (Advita Deepak/Nidhi Karekar (5th, No. 1).

Cougars junior Khrystyna Pivtorak competed admirably against Stein in a Friday quarterfinal at No. 1 singles before bowing 6-4, 6-1.

“Hard-fought match,” Conant coach Matt Marks said. “Khrystyna played the best that I’ve seen her play in a long team.

“Our Cougars are motivated, locked in.”

Barrington sophomore Enya Neagu locked horns with Downers Grove South sophomore Lily David in the third-place match at No. 2 singles for the second straight year. Neagu prevailed again when David — the younger sister of DGS’s singles ace, senior Gabby David (4th place, No. 1 singles) — retired at 2-6, 2-3.

“Lily is an aggressive player, and I wanted to make her run so she couldn’t attack as much,” said Neagu, the daughter of former Women’s Tennis Association pro Ramona But, a native of Romania.

Neagu was a national ski champion — at the age of 6.

Fillies coach Mike Byrd must be thrilled that Neagu ditched the poles to grip the strung sticks.

“Enya is more dialed in on the court this season, which is huge,” said Byrd, whose squad placed eighth (37 points) ahead of Libertyville (33) and DGS (29).

Afterward, Buffalo Grove coach and BG 32 invite director Michael Naughton praised his staffers, the coaches, the athletic directors at the tourney’s other sites, and the players.

“A tournament like this is a way to reward the girls who are dedicated to the sport of tennis,” said Naughton. “For some, the experiences here will give them confidence for the rest of the season, especially during the state series next month.

“I hope that many of them were inspired while watching a player like Lucy Stein compete here. I also hope they thought, ‘What is it going to take for me to reach that high level of tennis?’”