Scouting the Fox Valley area's girls tennis teams

2009 Fox Valley area girls tennis at a glance

Returning singles state qualifiers: Beth Hughes (Cary-Grove), Bianca Swegler (Elgin Academy), Alle Ballester (Dundee-Crown)

Returning doubles state qualifiers: Abbey Kolarczyk (Crystal Lake South), Stephanie Brunetti (Crystal Lake South)

2009 local sectional sites: Cary-Grove, Elgin, St. Charles East

2009 state meet: Oct. 22-24 (District 211 and District 214 courts)

Outlook: The Fox Valley Conference once again figures to be loaded with talented teams and players. The consensus once again is Prairie Ridge as the favorite with any of a number of other teams vying for the upper tier positions of the conference. "Prairie Ridge is still the team to beat," said Crystal Lake South coach Don Nead. "I think we'll see several teams fighting for the number two position in the conference and I think we can be one of them." South returns state qualifiers in Kolarczyk (junior), Brunetti (senior) and Rachel Boorom (senior) - which comprises the team's entire singles contingent from last year. Senior Krystal Reuter is the lone doubles returnee, while freshmen Marisa Thome and Rachel Siemon will also help. "We will be very competitive," said Nead, whose team started off 2-0 in duals and won a tournament at Schaumburg.

Cary-Grove returns singles state qualifier Hughes (sophomore), along with seniors Rachel Taddy (No. 2 singles), Laura Sparks (doubles), Elizabeth Lehnertz (half of No. 1 doubles from 2008) and Amanda Reuter (doubles). Seniors Janine Laverdiere, Elizabeth Powers, Kristen Trotter and juniors Valerie Pierce and Jocelyn Russell are newcomers to the varsity. "I think we can be in that top part of the conference with Johnsburg and Jacobs," said Cary-Grove coach Bud Lachel. "I think Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake South will get up on top. We've got a nice group of kids here that have some talent." Jacobs was off to an early 9-1 start on the season.

The third-place FVC finishers a year ago return junior Lindsey Gardeck (2nd at No. 3 singles FVC). She represents the lone returning varsity player (15 of 16 graduated). Key newcomers for the Golden Eagles include juniors Alex Buettner, Becky Oberhauser and Nikki Wahlborg, along with sophomores Kassy Bernardo, Marcilyn Rowan, Lauren Steinkamp and Anna Taylor. "Our young players have put in a great deal of work in the off-season," said Jacobs coach Jon Betts. "In our recent match with Crystal Lake Central (4-3 loss after a close 3-set match), points to the potential we have to put up some great results." Dundee-Crown returns state qualifier Ballester, along with seniors Yessenia Mejia and Ashley Guarino and junior Kathleen Fahy.

Fahy and Mejia will play No. 1 doubles, while Guarino will play No. 3 singles. "We graduated eight of 11 starters," said 13th-year D-C coach Janet Malecek, who retired from teaching in June. "We are a young team. We boast good numbers, so the program is growing, but we have much less experience than in previous years." Junior newcomer Nikki Heredia will play No. 2 singles for D-C. Huntley, seventh in the FVC last year, returns sophomore Jordan Anderson (No. 1 singles; 15-4 at No. 2 singles in 2008), along with seniors Ashley Pietrusiak (No. 2 singles), Kaylee Crogan (No. 2 doubles) and junior Lydia Jiang (No. 1 doubles). Newcomers include juniors Sam Chapman (No. 1 doubles), Bri Roeser (No. 3 singles) and Kelly Wuich (No. 2 doubles).

"We lost 7 players so our depth is a little down compared to last year," said Huntley coach Barry Wells, "but we have some good returning players and strong newcomers." In the Upstate Eight, Elgin welcomes in freshman No. 1 singles standout Jitsupa Sirinit, who took second at the recent Jacobs tournament. Junior St. Edward transfer Jordaizn Castanos was second at Jacobs at No. 2 singles. Seniors Carleen Krieb, Angel Certeza, Allison Harris, Aayushi Patel and Stephanie Anderson are also back for the Maroons. "We have some bright spots," said Elgin coach Jan Labar.

"Jitsupa and Jordaizn are looking really strong." Larkin returns seniors Kirstie Shales (No. 1 singles), Christine Shee (No. 2 doubles) and Katherine Sivoraphet (No. 2 doubles), along with the junior No. 1 doubles team of Allie DeWitt and Leah Tiaokhiao. Juniors Cassie Nagy (No. 2 singles), Jessica Stoltz (No. 3 doubles) and Caitlyn Strock (No. 3 doubles), along with sophomores Shelby Matison (No. 3 singles), Natalie Judkins (No. 4 doubles) and freshman Maggie Weber (No. 4 doubles) rounds out the lineup.

"The team is working hard every day to develop their tennis skills and to be able to execute our strategy to succeed," said Larkin coach Bob Young. "The goal is to get better with each match and play our best in the conference, sectional and state tournaments." Bartlett brings back No. 1 singles player Jen Parato (sophomore) and the No. 1 doubles team of sophomores Kaylen Kress and Katie Gates. Senior Bailey Pinsky is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. Alexis Gordon (No. 2 singles), Miranda Pang, Najia Yarkham, Danielle Fenn, Jessica Merma, Monica Repiscak (first-year senior) and sophomores Eram Haider and Mary Jo Baubkus will also help the Hawks.

"We're looking forward to the new season and improving in the standings over last year," said Bartlett coach Sue Hannula. "Another goal that has been discusses is to try and go farther in the conference tournament played at the end of the season and possibly get a player or two to state." Hannula has high hopes for the No. 1 doubles team of Kress and Gates. "Both girls have powerful strokes," said Hannula.

"Improvement this year and working on a more aggressive style of play, these two could get on a roll and surprise some teams come tournament time." Senior Brittany Quindel (No. 2 doubles) and juniors Michelle Nee (1-2 singles) and Feven Haile (1-2 singles) return for South Elgin. "We lost a lot of seniors," said South Elgin coach Melissa Tuftedal. "We're rebuilding this year. We're working on fundamentals and hoping to come away with some wins." Juniors Tiffany Rago, Caitlyn Matlak, Lane Skuteris, Holly Vaiger, Chelsey Satterlee and Lauren Dearman, as well as sophomores Jenna Hollander and Tessa Hanlon will also contribute for the Storm. Hampshire features the No. 1 doubles team of seniors Kelsey Burke and Vanassa Patthana, along with senior No. 1 singles player Kate Hougland.

"We hope to improve on our first season as a girls program by qualifying some players for the state tournament," said Hampshire coach Barry Hanrahan. "These girls have worked hard trying to improve and catch up to other Fox Valley and suburban girls tennis programs." St. Edward, under first-year coaches Jaci Corn and Courtney LaFerle, returns juniors Allison Knott and Colleen Knott, as well as juniors Fran Mangahas, Molly Pierce, Emily Schultz and Chelsea Scarnegie. Newcomers include promising freshman Kailey Durkin, as well as rookies Mia Sidlin and Dana Keen.

• John Radtke contributed to this report.