Rain plays havoc with state girls tennis tournament

It's the first day of the IHSA girls state tennis tournament. The players are excited, antsy, and nervous all at the same time.

They just want to play, but they must wait a few hours - filling the time by studying the draw sheets, studying their homework, eating, stretching and thinking about their first match.

A rainy Thursday forced play to indoor sites, and a delay in start time for matches scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at some locations.

"I just sat around and waited," Buffalo Grove's Nell Boyd said.

"I got up a few times and stretched. I ate food, but that was about it. You just had to wait, and we couldn't leave either."

"It just makes for a long day," said Buffalo Grove coach Kevin Schrammel.

Schrammel said he didn't think the weather delays and competition being moved inside threw Boyd off at all. He added that his team had been practicing indoors a lot in recent weeks because of the inclement weather.

"It's a different game inside," Schrammel said. "I don't think for one minute she felt uncomfortable, and we weren't going to change much of her game."

Schrammel said it's just a different feeling playing inside versus outdoors.

"Obviously it's the same sized court and ball and all that, but it's just different for some reason," he said.

"It might have helped that we've practiced inside during the past couple weeks."

Boyd won her first two matches, which were moved from Conant to Hinsdale Racquet Club. Boyd will play Rosary's Emily Reuland - a Top 16 seed - today at a location yet to be determined.

All players and coaches are supposed to meet at Prospect, which serves as tournament central, at 7:45 a.m. today to determine where matches will be played.

"I know I'm playing a seeded player," Boyd said. "She's in the bracket higher than me, so she should be pretty good. I just got to go to bed early and get mentally prepared for tomorrow just because it's single-elimination."

The rain has wiped out the tournament back draw, and the player know their seasons rest on a single match.

"It's all or nothing," Boyd said.

"It changes a lot of things in how you play. It's a little nerve-wracking. You're kind of uptight, and it puts more pressure on you."

Most players were able to play two matches Thursday, but some only played one. Every site is not at the same point in the tournament.

Other area players will continue tournament play today.

Barrington's Kristy Dodge will face Princess Clemente of Andrew in a second-round singles match.

Schaumburg's Monica Lin will face Jackie Altansarnai of Plainfield North in a third round match.

In doubles action, Barrington's Meg Crowley and Alli Linden, the top-seeded doubles team, will face Samantha Tonn and Jenna Jackson of Moline in the third round.

Also in the third round, Buffalo Grove's Ashton and Heather Nisbet will square off against Barrington's Dana Pierce and Annie Washburn; and Rolling Meadows' MaryClare Loughery and Kim Martini will play Lindsay Fox and Rebecca Ritchie of New Trier.

Buffalo Grove's doubles team of Dana and Lauren Goggin was eliminated.

Barrington's Zoë Kasuriak won her first match before being eliminated in the second round Thursday.

Deerfield has the team lead with 14 points. Barrington has 12 points and is tied for second with Lake Forest, Glenbrook North and New Trier. Buffalo Grove is eighth with 8 points.