Tinkering pays off for South

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CARY – Crystal Lake South girls tennis coach Don Nead is experimenting with his lineup, and so far it’s working.

The Gators got contributions from veteran players and freshman newcomers to defeat Cary-Grove, 6-1, in Fox Valley Conference action Tuesday and improve to 3-0 in dual meets this season.

Freshman Marisa Thome beat the Trojans’ Beth Hughes, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 1 singles. Nead said Thome, who won at No. 2 singles against Crystal Lake Central on Monday, has been a nice addition to his lineup.

Thome’s play appears to have an almost relaxed feel to it as she consistently and methodically plays baseline shots. Nead said the secret to Thome’s success is her preparedness in hitting the ball.

“She’s in position all the time. She anticipates well,” Nead said. “She drives players up the wall because the ball keeps coming back.”

Trojans coach Bud Lachel said playing Thome was good for Hughes because it forced her to play more consistently. Hughes, who qualified for state last year in singles, has struggled early in the season to find her form.

Lachel said Hughes has been beating herself with unforced errors.

“It’s kind of hard to get her game going when everything she hits is out,” Lachel said. “That was good for her. I thought she rallied real well.”

Abbey Kolarczyk and Stephanie Brunetti won at
No. 1 doubles for South, 6-2, 6-2. Kolarczyk, who teamed with Brunetti last year to qualify for state in doubles, also has spent time at No. 1 singles.

Kolarczyk said she liked the variety of playing both doubles and singles. Brunetti said she liked doubles more, particularly because of the fast-paced net play.

“I think doubles is more fun,” Brunetti said. “You get to be more aggressive at the net.”

Nead said he had not made any decisions on what his lineup will look like at the end of the season. That decision will be based both on how his players perform and also whom they will see at sectionals.

Kolarczyk and Brunetti hope to get another chance to qualify for state together. Last year, the duo won the first two rounds at state. That success, Kolarczyk said, would make expectations a little higher for them this year.

“Last year, we didn’t know what to expect,” Kolarczyk said. “It’s a lot of pressure.”

Also for the Gators, Rachel Siemon won at No. 2 singles, and Rachel Boorom won at No. 3 singles.

C-G (0-2) picked up its lone win at No. 3 doubles by Alex Cambiazo and Laurel Kay.