Qi, Naperville Central outlast Benet

Tuesday afternoon at Benet's St. Scholastica Athletic Complex, girls tennis players from the Redwings squad and visiting Naperville Central took to the courts with a wide range of experience. But they all had in common the desire to build up some momentum in the early days of the season.

Naperville Central freshman Jacquelyne Qi at No. 1 singles won the first match for the Redhawks, and Naperville Central went on to win 5-2.

Qi won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.

“I think I'm doing pretty good. My serving is getting better. (Benet's Pauline Neubert) played really well,” Qi said. “I just want to go out and play my best.”

The Redhawks also won at No. 2 singles with Alison Yuan prevailing 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 and the team won three of the four doubles matches.

Nina Raab and Elaine Liu prevailed at No. 2 doubles, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5); Brianna Mitchell and Alex Dram won in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, and Tiffany Smolik and Aarya Bavare gave Naperville Central its lone tiebreaker win, 1-6, 6-2, 10-5.

“We have some new doubles partners and I'm happy with what we are working on in practice is showing up in match situations,” said Redhawks coach Dan Brown. “I'm excited to see Jacquelyne coming into the team setting, and it's great to see Alex (Dram), also a freshman at No. 3 doubles. And the upperclassmen are providing very good leadership.”

Benet senior Katie Telford came into this season after finishing up big at state last year when she and now graduated Allison Bartley went 4-2, reaching the sixth round of the consolation bracket.

Telford and her new partner, sophomore Trinity Marshall, won at No. 1 doubles Tuesday, 6-1, 3-6, 10-8.

“State really opened my eyes to what other players are out there. It motivated me to do even better this season,” Telford said.

Telford and Marshall are not strangers to each other.

“We've been both on the team. We know each other and there's really good chemistry. The disadvantage is not having played together before,” Telford said.

Marshall said there are many positives to the partnership.

“We do well together. We're both really aggressive. It's an advantage that I'm left-handed. It's important that we have more chances to play together,” she said.

Redwings coach Michael Hand liked what he saw Tuesday but stressed that his team is a work in progress.

“It's early. We did well in sports, but there are some early mistakes we need to correct. But I saw a lot of positives,” he said.

Benet's Caroline Arnold won at No. 3 singles, 7-6, 6-7, 10-6.