Fox Valley players stay alive at state

Jacobs’ Ashley Kozey and Bartlett’s Jennifer Gates stayed alive into Day 2 of the IHSA state tennis tournament Thursday by winning second round consolation matches.

In doubles action, three Fox Valley area squads remained alive, including Jitsupa Sirinit/Gabby Gregorio of Bartlett, Rachel Siemon/Kelsey Laktash of Crystal Lake South and Alina Zabolotico/Megan Elliott of Jacobs.

Jacobs’ Kozy won her first round match over Elena Breer of Teutopolis 6-1, 6-1 before losing in the second round to Madeline Kahn of Glenbrook North 6-1, 7-5. Koxy came back, though, and won her consolation round match over Tia Norris of Hononegah 6-0, 6-0 to advance to today’s action.

Gates, meanwhile, beat Erica Tabor of Ottawa in her first round match 6-0, 6-2 before falling to Maria Avgerinos of York 6-2, 6-2. Gates came back and beat Brianna Deo of Rockford Auburn 6-0, 6-1 in the consolation bracket to stay alive.

Bartlett’s team of Sirinit and Gregorio lost their first round doubles match to Maddie Lipp and Christina Zordani of Lake Forest 6-0, 6-2 before coming back and winning two straight matches in the consolation bracket. First they knocked off Amanda Fuchs/Sarah Wise of Normal Community 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, then staved off elimination by beating Sam Eblin/ Kylie Amerman of Salem 6-0, 6-0.

Siemon/Laktash won their first round match 6-1, 6-3 over Gina Sipka/Kim Stremme of Lincoln-Way North before losing to Taya Zoubareva and Victoria Falk of Lake Forest 6-4, 6-1. The Gators’ duo then avoided elimination by beating Amy Shah/Nesha Patel of Danville 6-2, 6-2.

The Jacobs tandem of Zabolotico and Elliott won their first round battle with Allison Lessner and Kaela Mack of Homewood-Flossmoor 6-2, 6-3 then lost to Morgan McGinnis/Megan LaRose of Edwardsville 7-5, 7-6 (3) before staying alive by beating Kelsey Forkin and Kat Samardzija of Lockport 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

All other area qualifiers were eliminated on Thursday, including singles players Dahlia Keonavongsa of Elgin, Hannah Hoaglund of Hampshire and Kayla Garcia of Huntley as well as the doubles teams of Miranda Curtis/Jen Regard (Jacobs), Marisa Thome/Julia Thome (CL South), Monica Patthana/Julie Schreiner (Hampshire) and Brooke Romero/Ally Peitrusiak (Huntley).

Lake Forest leads the team standings after Day 1 with 22 points. Hinsdale Central (19) and New Trier (18) are close behind.