Girls tennis: Fremd wins rivalry matchup with Palatine
The pressure and excitement is evident in the crosstown rivalry between Palatine and Fremd in all sports, and Thursday night was no different in the Vikings' backyard courts.
Fremd (5-3, 4-0) prevailed in their statement match Thursday as they defeated the Pirates 6-1 in girls tennis.
The matches went until sundown as the No. 1 and 2 doubles teams battled in long and competitive play.
It was also a display of two state qualifiers from the Mid-Suburban West: Palatine No. 1 singles standout Asuka Kawai, a junior who took home hardware last season as she notched a third-place finish, and Fremd no. 1 junior doubles team Julia Smiarowska/Kate Bodensteiner (8-2), which finished in the top 16.
"This is the match we've been preparing for all year," said Fremd coach Lauren O'Donnell. "We knew the Palatine dual meet would be tough, just from all the returning players and Asuka's younger sister (Kanae). We started a countdown two weeks ago. I'm really proud of how we performed."
Asuka won her match by default, but Smiarowska/Bodensteiner had their work cut out for them with a matchup against Palatine sophomore Ky Oreshkin/freshman Kanae Kawai.
Smiarowska/Bodensteiner had a smooth course in the first set, winning 6-4. The crosstown foes began the second set in the same fashion jumping to a 3-0 start.
But Oreshkin/Kawai battled back and reclaimed the lead 4-3. The Palatine underclassmen's baseline play was not what Bodensteiner/Smiarowska expected this early in the season.
The Fremd tandem thrived in the ensuing two games as they won back-to-back sets to back in front 5-4. and ended up taking the set 7-5.
"We haven't played a lot of teams at that caliber," Smiarowska said. "We prefer to play a team like (Oreshkin/Kawai)."
"When (Oreshkin/Kawai) played baseline like that it gives them a lot of room," said Bodensteiner. "We tend to be a little tentative when that happens sometimes. We were a little bit nervous, because we played Ky before, but not Kanae. Our nerves played a factor at times.
"This gives us confidence moving forward, winning against top teams like that."
Palatine's No. 2 duo, senior Julianna Hake and junior Anja Jacobsen, gave the Fremd tandem of freshman Kellie Ha and junior Selin Parmaksiz, a bit of trouble. But ultimately the Vikings' pairing prevailed in three sets.
Other Vikings winners included No. 2 singles, where junior Elsie Ha beat Palatine sophomore Katelynn Spurck 6-0, 6-1 and a No. 3 singles, where senior Abbie Steinicki topped Anshita Jayanth 6-1, 6-1.
Fremd's No. 3 doubles, senior Rachel Carlins and freshman Jane Bodensteiner, topped Susan Levecke/Holly Bachman 6-2, 6-4, and the Vikes' No. 4 team of junior Emme Puritz and sophomore Elizabeth Lubeck registered topped Palatine senior Aishu Tallikar/Sam Ortiz 6-2, 6-1.
Palatine (5-2, 1-1) moves on to another MSL crossover against Elk Grove on Monday and an MSL West match against Barrington on Wednesday, while Fremd plays Conant in the upcoming week.
"Fremd and Barrington are the teams to beat," said Palatine coach Jim Lange. "They may be the two top teams in the entire MSL. Our team learned what it takes to compete. I see some things we can work on in practice. I'm proud of their play. We'll just have to get it turned up for our next match."