Waubonsie Valley's Glavin going solo and doing just fine

As a two-time state qualifier, Amanda Glavin of Waubonsie Valley is established as a top-flight doubles player. But in her senior year she's also making her mark at first singles.

On Tuesday Glavin, who has been playing singles for the past two weeks, won her first-singles match 6-2, 6-2 to lead the host Warriors to a 5-2 victory over cross-town and Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division rival Metea Valley.

While she's probably slated to play doubles at sectionals, Glavin was moved by coach Phil Galow to singles for the conference schedule in order to give younger teammates an opportunity to gain doubles experience.

“We know Amanda is a doubles player,” Galow said. “But we're trying to develop some of the other girls. And Amanda is doing fine at singles. And she likes it. She's finding satisfaction in realizing that she's out there by herself. There's nobody else.”

“In singles it's all on my shoulders,” Glavin said. “There's more running in singles. There's a different strategy in creating points. And you have to be more patient because the points take longer. There isn't a partner at the net to put the ball away.”

Her doubles experience has been a big help in her singles game because unlike many singles players, Glavin doesn't hesitate to attack the net to put shots away.

“I can finish points faster than a lot of singles players,” Glavin said.

Galow is impressed with how well Glavin has adapted to the new position and what a unique presence she brings to the lineup in her new role.

“She wins a lot of points at the net,” Galow said. “You don't see many singles players who can do that.

“Today my inside-out forehand was my best shot,” Glavin said. “I tried to keep it in her backhand corner.”

While she admits that doubles is her comfort zone and where she wants to play in order to secure her third state qualification, Glavin, who has singles experience in club tennis, is happy to help the team by playing at the top of the singles lineup.

She believes the position switch will also have a positive effect on her doubles game.

“This is helping my groundstrokes a lot,” Glavin said. “I'm getting more consistent and that will help me at doubles.”

In Tuesday's win the Warriors (8-3, 2-0) swept the three singles matches and split the doubles 2-2.

Metea Valley's first doubles Tyler Proszowski and Delaney Earley topped Waubonsie's Saaya Nath and Archana Upadhyay 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, while Emily Dixon and Michelle Hu of Metea Valley (9-4, 1-2) won at second doubles.

“It's always hard to lose to Waubonsie,” said Metea Valley coach Karly Olson. “We did beat them last year. But this is a completely different team for us. We're beating the teams we should beat and the girls are improving a lot. But today we had our hands full.”

Glenbard East 5, West Aurora 2:Glenbard East coach Bill Burt claimed his 500th career victory with the win. 30651649Nikki Beesetti of Metea Valley reaches for the ball during the Metea Valley at Waubonsie Valley girls tennis match Tuesday.Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com 15931153Deja Hartsfield of Metea returns a ball during the Metea Valley at Waubonsie Valley girls tennis match Tuesday.Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com