Scouting Tri-Cities girls tennis

This time next fall someone on the Geneva girls tennis team is going to have some big shoes to fill.

This year, though, it's one more fall of Kirby Einck winning big at No. 1 singles.

For the past four years Einck has been at the top of the Geneva lineup, starting at first singles as a freshman and staying there ever since.

Einck has won over 100 career matches, made state all three years and put her name among the best Vikings coach Maureen Weiler has had at Geneva along with Kayla Fujimoto, Jenny Yonkus, and doubles player Blair Selakovich.

Einck has yet to commit to a college but is considering West Point and Ball State among others.

How Einck concludes here stellar Geneva career is one of several interesting storylines to follow this fall. She's also got company of returning talent at Geneva. The Vikings enjoyed a big year in the Upstate Eight River last season and return Emma Hazel, Grace Krueger and Shannon Foster in addition to Einck.

"Kirby will be of interest to watch her senior year," Weiller said. "We hope to repeat as conference champs."

Repeating will not be easy. Batavia finished 8-3 in dual meets last year, second in the UEC River, and second at the St. Charles East sectional.

Batavia also won the Pekin Invite, took second at the St. Charles East Invite and the Oswego Invite, and third out of 16 teams at the Bloomington Invite.

In the 16th season as Batavia coach, Brad Nelson has to replace four-year varsity players Jenny Mizikar and Brooke Lefevre. Mizikar holds Batavia's record for most wins in program history with 129, and Lefevre is third all-time in doubles at 85.

Batavia also lost three-time state qualifying doubles player Amelia Cogan to Idaho when her father was transferred.

But there's plenty of talent still in the lineup. Senior first singles Nora McClure went 24-14 last year and qualified for state.

Senior Ashlyn Turner is playing second singles after taking second in conference at fourth doubles last year. Junior Kate McClure, No. 1 singles on the JV last year, moves into third singles, while senior Alyssa Stanczak and junior Jenna Walsh move from the JV lineup to varsity singles.

Batavia's new first doubles team will feature a senior, Sydnee Unterberg, and sophomore Julianne Robinson. Unterberg went 23-10 last year and qualified for state in doubles. Robinson was 17-9 last year and won the conference championship at third doubles.

Senior Holley Smorczewski and sophomore Maddie Rea make up the second doubles team. Smorczewski went 11-3 last year playing with Robinson at third doubles while Rea missed most of the season with an ankle injury.

Seniors Shannon Gloudeman and Megan Garvin are playing third doubles. Gloudeman placed second in the conference at fourth doubles while Garvin took third at No. 3 singles.

Seniors Zoe Forte and Maddie Hertel are playing fourth doubles with two more seniors Olivia Clarey and Makayla Fagan at fifth doubles.

"We have been working on developing doubles teams, and I am very encouraged by what I have seen thus far," Nelson said. "Our singles players have all improved and have been playing consistent tennis. Unterberg and Smorczewski are ready to take over the top spots in doubles. We have a senior-laden team that has been together for four years. I will be looking for them to step up and leave their mark on the program."

Nelson also is expecting good things from his younger players.

"Our two sophomores have been working very hard and have really improved, giving us two tough doubles teams at the top of our lineup," Nelson said. "Our three and four teams will be strong and are hitting the ball well. They have been working on being more aggressive at the net and continue to get better each time out. There are some new faces in the lineup, but they have worked hard and are ready to seize the opportunity."

Nelson said the conference race promises to be exciting.

"Should be another tight race with Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles North and St. Charles East competing for the title," Nelson said. "We will be tested every weekend with a strong slate of invites that will help us to be ready for conference and sectionals."

Eve Tubman's St. Charles North squad brings back three of its top four doubles players: juniors Emma Spellman and Brittany Rohrsen, and senior Lianne Anderson.

"With veteran Morgan Rerko joining them we look for some big wins from our top doubles teams," Tubman said.

Tubman said Sarah Oshana and Mackenzie Solomon also will contribute to the doubles lineup.

Other players to watch include Breanne Warner, Shasha Anderson, sophomore Kate Boeke and junior Julia Nickolson.

"All the girls are already working and training, giving there utmost to better the team," Tubman said. "We hope to move up our standing in the highly competitive Tri-City tennis area."

One big change taking place this fall is at St. Charles East where Hall of Fame coach Sena Drawer retired and Matthew Bulman has taken over.

"Win, lose or tie we dedicate this season to Sena Drawer," Bulman said. "She has set this program up for success and we hope to do right by her each and every time we walk on to the court. If I can coach half as well as Sena has done for these girls these past 27 seasons, I'll consider it a major victory for Saints tennis."

Bulman played high school tennis at Glenbard South. He coached for six years under Drawer as the JV coach, and he also has coached the Saints boys JV team for the past five seasons. In his 11 seasons coaching the lower levels the Saints have won the UEC River Division the past 7 seasons.

"The new team has been working hard all off-season and while we have a lot of new faces on the squad these girls have had a lot of success at the lower levels and are excited to build off it this coming year," Bulman said. "So far it has been a great start."

The Saints went 15-3 last year in duals. They have 17 players on varsity, including No. 1 singles Jaci Spoerl, a senior who has committed to play at Ohio Davidson.

"Her power has increased and even more impressively so has her patience and control," Bulman said. "She will be a force to be reckoned with this year."

Senior Katie Downing also returns after going undefeated to win a conference championship at fourth doubles. This year she'll play first doubles.

"She's smart, strategic and has had a lot of success lower in the lineup," Bulman said. "I'm confident she'll transition nicely to that top doubles spot."

Junior Emily Hautzinger will joining Downing at first doubles. Juniors Emily Sullivan and Paige Ackerman are playing second doubles while sophomore Olivia Gapuz is moving into the second singles slot.

"We graduated almost our entire starting lineup, but replaced them with players that have single digit losses on their career stats," Bulman said. "Every girl is better than they were last year and every girl is working hard to get even better each day."

Bulman said the team's goals include sending as many girls to state as possible.

"Our motto this year is 'no fear,' Bulman said. "We will walk onto the court and play anyone. It's going to be close and probably going to come down to doubles play. We like our chances but know there's a lot of work left to do."

Moving outside the Upstate Eight Conference, Rosary has five captains on this year's team, all seniors: Megan Conlin, Alexis Thomas, Maddy Deufel, Haley Van Dyke and Alex Carter.

The Royals went 14-14 last year with a 7-2 record in the Suburban Christian and a third-place finish.

Coach John Tsang said freshman Angela Dassis will also see immediate playing time in singles and doubles. The Royals got their season started by winning the Sycamore doubles title last weekend.

"We are not in a conference due to the SCC being dissolved," Tsang said. " We have a versatile team with players able to play both doubles and singles when needed."

Aurora Central Catholic is coming off a 12-10 season and fourth-place finish in the final year of the Suburban Christian Conference.

"With eight seniors our strength is our depth and experience," Chargers coach Mike Cowen said. "Most of the girls have at least three years of varsity experience. I have 12 girls I can throw out there and feel very comfortable. Our goals for the season are very high and the girls are excited. Moving to a new conference will be a new and exciting challenge. I know there are some real good teams there and we hope to challenge for the top spot."

As for the Chargers' top spot, senior Alex Horton returns after going 16-7 at first singles last year. It's her third year at No. 1 for someone Cowen describes as "a great player and great person."

"She has worked extremely hard over the last nine months and has one goal and that's state," Cowen said.

At first doubles senior Courtney Decker and junior Cori Dahl will team up. Seniors Shannon McEachern and Sabrina Dudziak are playing second doubles.

"I'm mixing up my doubles this year," Cowen explained. "Courtney played No. 1 doubles last year with Sabrina. They were 7-9. Cori played No. 2 doubles last year with Shannon and they were 10-7. Both doubles teams will be strong. All have worked very hard in the off-season and are much stronger tennis players than they were last year."

At third doubles Cowen is looking at seniors Grace McCarthy, Jessica Wiercinski and Nikola Wiercinski.

"All good players and will play a significant role this year," Cowen said.

Joining the returnees are a pair of newcomers: senior Jennifer Talken who transferred from Geneva last year and had to sit out. Freshman Giselle Salazar has "a lot of power," according to Cowen with "a strong forehand and she is a good volleyer."