Varsity This week only the sectional squad practiced in preparation for the IHSA state qualifying event. Representing the team in singles was Samantha Heinking and Rachel Sitasz, and in doubles were the teams of Puz/ LoConte, and Johnson/ Kaplan. Of those six players, five have never played in the sectional lineup before. After a good week of practice, the girls played great on Friday! After pulling a tough draw, three of the four entries lost their opening round matches against some strong opponents, but the first doubles team of Puz and LoConte qualified for state after downing a nice York doubles team 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter finals. On Saturday Puz and LoConte played Hinsdale Central’s second doubles team in the first round and lost 6-1, 2-6, 4-6, and then took third place after HC’s first doubles team had to default. The season continues for another week as Puz and LoConte get back on a practice court to gear up for the IHSA state tournament Thursday-Saturday.
Week of October 1st
Varsity This week was a busy week for Hornets, as they finished up their own conference play, and saw some action against the other side of the conference. On Monday, the Hornets took down a strong Morton team 5-2, with some stellar play behind 1st singles player Samantha Heinking. On Tuesday, the Hornets took on DGN, and fell 2-8 with their only wins coming at the first and second doubles positions. The team of Johnson and Kaplan played tough at second doubles to scrape out a hard fought win. Thursday was a tough day for the Hornets, heading over to LT, where they fell 0-7. The first doubles team of Puz and LoConte lost a nail biter 8-10 in the third set. Friday the conference tournament took place… Outside in the cold and rain, under the lights, and then indoors! All conference players included Samantha Heinking, Brigid LoConte, Aimee Puz, Taylor Johnson, Rachel Sitasz, Courtney Kaplan, Jada Lunsford, and Erin Sheehan. The team finished 2nd behind a tough DGS team, and narrowly beat out Willowbrook by two points.
Week of September 24th
Varsity This week the Girls’ Tennis team was supposed to have four matches over the course of six days, but the weather had other plans. After getting rained out on Tuesday versus Morton, the Hornets did battle against Naperville Central on Thursday. Despite falling 0-7, the Hornets saw some excellent play from Sam Heinking and Courtney Kaplan at the second and third singles positions respectively. The doubles team of LoConte and Puz also teamed up for a nice match at the one position.
This Saturday the Hornet’s won 3-2 versus a nice team from Plainfield South, then fell 2-3 to York and 2-3 to Lincoln-Way West. Samantha Heinking again stepped up playing first singles in all three matches, and despite going 0-3 on the day, lost two of her matches in third set tiebreakers, and the third match lost to a tough former state qualifier. She no doubt has an excellent future ahead of her. This coming week will be a busy one for the Hornets, as they take on Morton, DGN, LT, and start their conference tournament on Friday.
Week of September 17th
Varsity This week the Hornets squared off against two of the top teams in the conference. On Tuesday they suffered a loss to rival DGS, falling 2-5, but got some great wins at the first doubles and third doubles positions. No doubt that is going to be a tough team to beat come the conference tournament. On Thursday they battled a strong team from Willowbrook, but prevailed 5-2, with losses coming only at the 3rd singles and fourth doubles positions. The Hornets get some needed rest this weekend as they gear up for another week busy with tough match play.
JV It was the best of times and the worst of times for the JV Hornet tennis team this week with a split decision in conference matches.
On Tuesday, September 18th, the Hornets throttled the visiting Mustangs of Downers Grove South with a 7-0 victory. Isa Botero made an incredible comeback at 1st singles, winning 3-6, 7-5, 10-6. Keelyn Cranley cruised at 2nd singles (6-1, 6-0), and Stephanie Ogbuehi won easily at 3rd singles (6-1, 6-0). It was also a clean sweep at doubles where Zoe Legasse and Sabrina Coffey won at 1st doubles (6-2, 4-6, 13-11). The doubles team of Nina Pierce and Devin Hurle (6-0, 7-6(7-4)) won 2nd doubles. Urte Zakarauskas and Madelyn Ferargo won 3rd doubles easily 7-5, 6-2, and Izzy O'neill and Meda S won 4th doubles 6-0, 6-4.
In a surprising turn of events, the Hornets lost to Willowbrook 3-4.
The Hornets will wrap up the conference season against Morton on Tuesday in Berwyn.
Week of September 10th
Varsity This was a bit of an up and down week for the Hornets. On Tuesday, they were visited by a tough team from Metea Valley and fell 0-7. They rebounded with a conference win on Thursday against Proviso East (6-1). Of note was the play of Aimee Puz who battled against a solid one singles player from PE, but fell 6-7(3), 5-7. That weekend the girls did work against Loyola, WWS, and Glenbrook North. Up and down the lineup, the girls played great, but fell to some teams with a bit more experience than the young Hornet squad. Lunsford and Sitasz had a great match versus WWS at the third doubles position in the opening round. The team of Puz and Puz got a stellar win versus Loyola Academy at the first doubles position in the second round. The team of LoConte and Vaitulevicius put in some solid work against the second doubles team from GBN. All in all, it was a great day for Hornet tennis where the girls continued to exhibit growth!
Week of September 3rd
Varsity This was a great week for Hornet tennis! The girls have started out their conference portion of the season 2-0 after some big wins versus Addison Trail and Leyden on Tuesday and Thursday (both 7-0 victories). Sam Heinking got huge wins at the 3rd singles position both nights, and Alysiana Martinez and Sydney Huang shored up the 4th doubles position both outings as well. This weekend we took on Hinsdale Central (L 0-5), Naperville North (0-5), and Fenwick (L 2-3). Of note was the stellar play of Aimee Puz and Taylor Johnson who lost a tight one at the first doubles position against Naperville North. This week the Hornets take on Metea Valley and Proviso East before heading up to the Loyola Quad this weekend. Should be a great week!
JV After a rough first week of the season against powerful Naperville North, York, and Glenbard West squads, the JV Hornet girls tennis team notched its first conference victory on Tuesday, 9/4/18, with a 6-1 drubbing of Addison Trail.
Stephanie Ogbuehi won at 2nd singles 6-4, 6-4. The Hornets swept all of the doubles matches too, being led by Zoe Legasse and Sabrina Coffey at 1st doubles (6-0, 6-1). The doubles team of Keelyn Cranley and Marina Milovanovic (6-2, 6-2) won 2nd doubles, and Nina Pierce and Devin Hurley (6-0, 6-1) teamed back up to win 3rd doubles. The Hornets look to build on their first victory with another conference meet against Leyden on Thursday at home.
The JV Girls' Tennis team notched its second conference dual victory of the season with a 6-1 victory of Leyden on Thursday, 9/6/18.
Izzy O'neill was victorious at 2nd singles (6-1, 6-2). The Hornets swept all of the doubles matches too, being led by Zoe Legasse and Sabrina Coffey at 1st doubles (6-4, 6-0). The doubles team of Keelyn Cranley and Marina Milovanovic (6-2, 6-2) won 2nd doubles, and Nina Pierce and Devin Hurley (6-1, 6-2) teamed back up to win 3rd doubles. And newcomers Urte Zakarauskas and Madelyn Ferargo won their first ever match at 4th doubles (6-2, 6-4).
Week of August 27th
This week the Hornet’s squared off against Glenbard West. They competed well up and down the lineup, but fell 0-7. Of note were varsity newcomers Rachel Sitasz and Alysiana Martinez who played a great match at the 4th doubles position, and continue to improve each time they step out on court. Sam Heinking also lost a tough one at 3rd singles 6(5), 2.
This weekend the team headed down to Edwardsville where they took on host Edwardsville, Glenwood, Maine South, and New Trier. They battled the heat to play 4 duals over two days, with some girls playing a total of 8 matches. Seniors Aimee Puz and Brigid LoConte went 3-1 in singles over the course of two days. Sophomore Sam Heinking and freshman Courtney Kaplan also played some terrific singles matches, and came together to play doubles a bit as well. The doubles team of Sydney Puz and Taylor Johnson also came together to post a win versus Maine South, before falling to a tough team from New Trier in a pro-set tiebreaker. This week the girls start conference play against Addison Trail and Leyden before heading to the Red Devil Invite.
Week of August 20th
This week the Girls’ Tennis team hosted their annual Cookout Quad with Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, and York. The day started out with a lot of roll drying, but after a delayed start, the quad got underway. The team went 0-3 on the day against some of the top schools in the area, but showed a lot of promise from their underclassmen and newbies to varsity. Of mention was the play of Jada Lunsford, Greta Vaitulevicius, Rachel Sitasz, Courtney Kaplan, and Alysiana Martinez who rotated in at the 2nd and 3rd doubles positions. Up top, the Puz sisters did work on both the singles and doubles courts, and Taylor Johnson and Brigid LoConte rounded out the top four players for the Hornets on Saturday. Overall, the team played great, and with some more time on the practice courts, the girls should be able to find their stride right in time for the upcoming conference season. This is a busy week for the Hornets, who take on GBW, DGN, and then head to Edwardsville for the Heather Bradshaw Tourney.
Week of August 13th
This week the Girls’ Tennis Team traveled to Urbana-Champaign to compete in the Centennial Invitational. The team finished in 10th place and was led by first singles player Aimee (Cherry) Puz who went 3-1 on the day, and the first doubles team of Brigid LoConte and Sydney Puz who went 2-2 in a loaded draw. The girls played great, and show a lot of promise heading into a season that is going to be defined by growth. This week the team takes on Naperville Central and Naperville North, before a busy Saturday that has the team competing at home in our BBQ quad, York, and Lockport.