Four titles for MSL champ Barrington
Barrington extended its reign atop Mid-Suburban League girls tennis on Saturday, as the Fillies netted their 22nd consecutive MSL crown.
Barrington tallied first with 57 points, while Buffalo Grove improved by two slots over its previous placement by finishing second with 41 points. Fremd and Palatine tied for third with 40 points.
The Fillies had all seven positions represented in the finals. Four of those seven Barrington finalists brought home titles.
"This team works so well together," said Barrington coach Tracy Waters-Miller. "They are cohesive no matter where they play, who they play or how they play. Everyone's excited to get out there and be playing in their finals. The theme this year is 'finish well' - and they did. I was super impressed with the kids."
Palatine sophomore first singles player Asuka Kawai notched her second straight MSL title by defeating Barrington senior Michelle Linden 6-4, 6-0. The two players both ended up in the top 10 at last year's state tournament.
Kawai is still undefeated, just as she was last year at this point. Perhaps more impressive is that Kawai has yet to be taken to a third set this fall.
"I just kept playing my game," Kawai said. "It's never easy at all to beat (Linden), but I just kept hitting the ball and I got the gains. I'm playing confident, but I'm also aware that you never know what they'll bring the next game. So I just play the way I want to play."
Fremd sophomore doubles team Julia Smiarowska/Kate Bodensteiner were seeking an outcome different from the one they got in the regular-season matchup with Barrington's Anna Donoghue/Nidhi Jha (who were state qualifiers in 2014). Smiarowska/Bodensteiner dropped that one 6-4, 7-5.
This time it was the Fremd pair prevailing, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 against the defending first doubles league champs.
"We couldn't get nervous," Smiarowska said. "We started off rusty this year. We both know we can do different things. We trust each other. Coach (Lauren Hall) dedicates a lot of time for us in practice to help us."
"Barrington's so consistent," Bodensteiner said. "I think that we had less pressure on us and it affected our playing (in the regular-season matchup). We're going to try different things. We've played Stevenson before and they're tough. We look forward to seeing them in sectionals, too."
At second singles, Barrington's Sara Amano defeated Palatine freshman Ky Oreshkin, and at third singles, the Fillies' Morenika Gairaju won.
The second and third doubles title matches featured the top two teams from the West and East divisions: Barrington and Buffalo Grove.
At No. 2, Barrington's Paige Broustis/Hannah Park locked up a title over Buffalo Grove's Danielle Allaire/Denny Dimitrova 6-2, 6-2, while at No. 3, Buffalo Grove freshmen Emma Boyd/Allison Schultz emerged victorious.
"These are all good players," Broustis said. "This prepares us for next week. We're going to do as well as we can in my senior year (at sectionals). I always want to move forward in my play every year. Stevenson has some great players, so we can hopefully do well there."
The Fillies' No. 4 doubles team, Morgan Maison/Morgan Minnow, also notched 6-0, 6-2 championship over Fremd seniors Carolyn Kim/Jessica Lim.
Sectionals begin Thursday. The MSL teams will be split up between action at Stevenson, Glenbrook South and Lake Park.
"We had a good tournament," said Buffalo Grove coach Kevin Schrammel. "We had a huge win from our No. 3 doubles team (Allaire/Dimitrova). They played the best match of the year to finish off their season. I think our girls are peaking at the right time, mentally and emotionally. I'm feeling good moving into next week and it's good to get the East back. A very positive day."