St. Charles North cruises past St. Charles East
Kicking off the Upstate Eight Conference season against your cross-town rival has its disadvantages.
However, as St. Charles North badminton coach Michael Smith said, "I don't like opening against our conference rival but they're doing the same thing."
Coming off a solid third-place conference finish last season, the North Stars (2-0) turned in an impressive UEC debut showing during Tuesday's cross-town showdown with St. Charles East (0-2).
Capturing 4 of 5 doubles matches and 8 of 10 singles confrontations, the North Stars scored a 12-3 victory over the visiting Saints.
"It went very well," said North Stars senior Megan Nemec, who teamed up with Meg Morrison for a win at second doubles before returning for a straight-set victory at eighth singles. "I'm proud of the team because it's only our second game and it came against our cross-town rivals. It means that much more to win because you have the rest of the season to think about it if you don't."
Nemec, who prefers playing doubles, scored a 21-9, 21-15 singles triumph over the Saints' Lauren McNally.
"I think I had enough energy behind me because it was (against) East," said Nemec. "I was ready to beat them and I came prepared."
The North Stars also received doubles victories from Mae Lyn Fou-Valerie Lians (No. 3), Taylor Hirsch-Marin Beagley (No. 4), and Jacquelyn Stephens-Breanne Kelley (No. 5).
Their lone doubles blemish came at the No. 1 spot, where the Saints' duo of Stephanie Swanson-Cassie Bossert earned a 21-13, 21-15 victory over St. Charles North's Jocelyn Jessop-Emily Gunderman.
After Lians, Beagley, Hirsch, Morrison, Nemec, Kelley and Stephens secured singles wins in the fourth through 10th positions, respectively, the final match of the day featured returning state doubles qualifier Jessop against the Saints' Swanson. Jessop, 1 of 8 North Stars seniors, split the first two games before seizing control in the decisive third game, closing with a 10-2 run to win 21-10.
"The doubles match did not go as I had hoped so I had to refocus for the singles game," said Jessop, who admittedly kicked it into another gear after the players switched sides midway through the third game. "Sometimes you really get into it and focus - that's what happened. I can't let my mind wander at all or I lose it."
Smith noticed Jessop's increased awareness down the stretch.
"At the 11-point break, there were some mental things going through her head," said the coach. "We put some things into place to offset those mental lapses and she did that during those next 10 points. At the end there, she was just hitting everything."
The Saints received singles wins from Amy Dieter (No. 2) and Bossert (No. 3), who enjoyed a 2-0 day.
"Cassie's a sophomore and a first-year varsity player who has come a long way," said Saints coach Tricia Denorio. "I see good things ahead for Cassie as well as Stephanie (Swanson)."
Although the season is still young, North's Smith has already noticed plenty of veteran guidance.
"The leadership this year is just incredible," he said. "I'll just give the girls a drill to do and there's very little instruction - they go right to their courts.
"We lost 4 state qualifiers from last year and 6 seniors so I was worried that this year wouldn't be quite as strong but if I had to gauge it right now, I'd say we're going to have a good season."