Highland, Munster to meet in final

HIGHLAND -- All the rain delays couldn't derail Munster and Highland from advancing into the girls tennis team regional finals, as the pair blanked Whiting and Crown Point, respectively, 5-0 on Wednesday.

After rain pushed back the Highland Regional a day, the Mustangs and Trojans finished off what they had started the day before.

"I felt a whole lot more comfortable going into today because I was already up 4-0 (in the first set)," said the Trojans' No. 1 singles player, Sarah Kitchell. Before the rain hit Tuesday night, Kitchell jumped out to the quick lead against Whiting's Araceli Gomez, and eventually went on to win 6-0, 6-0.

The junior is still alive in the individual sectional with the victory, along with teammates and No. 1 doubles team Christina Quinn and Elizabeth Quinn. They defeated the Whiting duo of Melissa Rodriguez and Courtney Winkleman 6-0, 6-0.

Highland also got dominant, straight-set wins from Brianna Kikalos at No. 2 singles, Alyssa Hojnicki at No. 3 singles and the No. 2 doubles team of Katie Schiller and Rachel Lenhart.

The other semifinal matchup that was delayed wrapped up in similar fashion, with the Mustangs ending Crown Point's season. Mustangs phenomenon Mary Hill overwhelmed the Bulldogs' No. 1 singles player Chelsea Vires, 6-0, 6-0, after leading 2-0 in the first set prior to the rainout.

"In other tournaments I pray for rain, but here I pray it doesn't rain because being on a team is so much better," Hill said.

Hill, along with her fellow Mustangs, didn't wait around for it to rain again, as they made quick work of the Bulldogs. They surrendered just 11 games the entire match.

Munster also got straight-set wins from Bobbi Modesto and Christina Lee, and the doubles teams of Christina Kovacich and Rachael Heiniger, and Vanessa Sepiol and Kamryn Klawitter. Kovacich and Heiniger had their hands full with Crown Point's Kelly Gross and Hanna Tokoly, but went on to win 6-4, 6-2.

In individual sectional play, Kankakee Valley's Abbey Hamstra advanced by defeating Clark's Brittany Delgado, 6-0, 6-0.

"I was a little nervous coming in, but I expected to do well and I did play pretty good," the freshman said.