Girls tennis sectional outlook

Updated: May 17, 2011 10:58PM

Crown Point

Teams: Crown Point, Hanover Central, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, Rensselaer

Schedule: Wednesday, Hanover Central vs. Rensselaer, 4:15 p.m.; Thursday, Crown Point vs. Kankakee Valley, Lowell vs. Hanover Central-Rensselaer winner, 4:15; final, 6:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Gabby Touchette, Kelly Gross, Kelsey Ingelhart (Crown Point); Faith Elger, Alex Pederson, Nikki Daker (Hanover Central); Abbey Hamstra, Kayla Fieldhouse, Jenn Anderson (Kankakee Valley); Natalie Johnson, Mallory Swisher, Amber DeYoung (Lowell); Katie Phillips, Reagan Goodman, Victoria Watson (Rensselaer)

Skinny: Crown Point has won an impressive 16 straight titles, but its run could be in jeopardy. Lowell is seeking its first title since 1997 (its only one), and the Red Devils edged the Bulldogs 3-2 on May 9.

Next: Winner vs. East Chicago Sectional winner in Highland Regional semifinals, Tuesday

Culver Academies

Teams: Culver Academies, Knox, North Judson, Rochester

Schedule: Wednesday, Knox vs. Culver Academies, North Judson vs. Rochester, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Kierstynn Combs, Katelyn Peters, Elisabeth Caudill (Knox); Paydin Barrett, Rusana Bailey, Jordann Frasure (North Judson)

Skinny: Six-time defending champion Culver Academies should make it seven straight titles.

Next: Winner vs. Penn Sectional winner in South Bend St. Joseph’s Regional semifinals, Tuesday

East Chicago

Teams: Bishop Noll, East Chicago Central, Hammond, Whiting

Schedule: Wednesday, East Chicago Central vs. Whiting, Hammond vs. Bishop Noll, 4 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4 p.m.

Players to watch: Stacy Krahn, Alejandra Almendarez, Andrea Lopez (Bishop Noll); Ashley Pabey, Nina Heard, Sandra Lozano (East Chicago Central); Angelica Rodriguez, Sonia Sanchez, Adriana Alcantar (Hammond); Megan Jakovich, Megan Kazmierski, Lupe Cornejo (Whiting)

Skinny: Bishop Noll could be in position to win its first title since 1989 (when it won the last of three straight). The Warriors have regular-season victories over all three of the other teams, including a competitive match May 12 against East Chicago Central, pursuing its first title since 1996. Whiting has won back-to-back titles and three in the last four seasons.

Next: Winner vs. Crown Point Sectional winner in Highland Regional semifinals, Tuesday

Highland

Teams: Calumet, Griffith, Highland, West Side

Schedule: Wednesday, Highland vs. Calumet, Griffith vs. West Side, 4 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4 p.m.

Players to watch: Lyndsey Digiacomo, Destiny Fleming, Areana Eckman (Calumet); Jessica Hermosillo, Lindsey Sopetti, Michelle Sopetti (Griffith); Vanessa Madrigal, Aby Madrigal, Liz Quinn, Nikki Goodeve (Highland); Litney Gray (West Side)

Skinny: It’s been another excellent season for Highland, which should have little trouble in winning its eighth straight title. The key item to note is the Trojans’ lineup, particularly if Aby Madrigal plays No. 2 singles or No. 1 doubles.

Next: Winner vs. Munster Sectional winner in Highland Regional semifinals, Tuesday

Hobart

Teams: Andrean, Boone Grove, Hobart, Merrillville

Schedule: Wednesday, Hobart vs. Merrillville, Boone Grove vs. Andrean, 4 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4 p.m.

Players to watch: Candace Roberson, Ellie Mummery, Kira Grunstein (Andrean); Allyson Trevino, Jen Huerta, Rachel Lamb (Boone Grove); Reena Childers, Jennifer Syjut, Stephanie Bachmann (Hobart); Allison Varela, Lea Neligan, Kelsey Sajdera, (Merrillville)

Skinny: Hobart, which takes over the sectional previously hosted by Merrillville, has won back-to-back titles. The Brickies have regular-season victories over all three of the other teams, including 4-1 against Merrillville on April 20.

Next: Winner vs. Lake Station Sectional winner in Portage Regional semifinals, Tuesday

Lake Station

At RIVER FOREST

Teams: Clark, Lake Station, River Forest

Schedule: Thursday, Clark vs. River Forest, 4:30 p.m.; Friday, Lake Station vs. Clark-River Forest, 4:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Lily Villicana, Yesenia Sanchez, Ruby Gallardo (Clark); Amber Dwyer, Kelsey Lemley, Kaylyn Shewmaker (Lake Station); Vivian Nunez, Jacklynn Rice, Mariso Sotelo (River Forest)

Skinny: The state’s only three-team sectional could be up for grabs, with the teams having played multiple 3-2 matches during the regular season. Clark — which last won a title in 2005, its third straight — could have the edge, with 3-2 victories against River Forest on April 18 and Lake Station on May 10. River Forest also topped Lake Station 3-2 on May 2. The Ingots have won three straight titles and five in the last six seasons, with the Eagles winning in 2007.

Next: Winner vs. Hobart Sectional winner in Portage Regional semifinals, Tuesday

LaPorte

Teams: LaPorte, Marquette, Michigan City, New Prairie

Schedule: Wednesday, Michigan City vs. New Prairie, LaPorte vs. Marquette, 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Hillary Frye, Taylor Crider, Kristen Sanders (LaPorte); Katie Clancy, Mary Katherine Slattery, Christina Bar (Marquette); Brooke Foltz, Ashleigh Ellenwood, Lauren Palmer, Lena Carlson (Michigan City)

Skinny: DAC tri-champion Michigan City has won 10 straight sectional titles and 14 of 15 since the consolidation.

Next: Winner vs. Portage Sectional winner in Portage Regional semifinals, Tuesday

Munster

Teams: Gavit, Lake Central, Morton, Munster

Schedule: Today, Morton vs. Munster, Gavit vs. Lake Central, 4 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4 p.m.

Players to watch: Crystal Gilbert, Courtney Musgrave, Alondra Macias (Gavit); Lauren Ashenbrener, Anna Weber, Bre Falcone (Lake Central); Mallory Coto, Rebecca Postema, Gabby DiFiore (Morton); Paige Heuer, Erica Tritsch, Jessica Rooth, Andjela Radmilovic, Marianna Rogers (Munster)

Skinny: Perennial power Munster has won 34 straight titles and 35 overall, both the most in the state.

Next: Winner vs. Highland Sectional winner in Highland Regional semifinals, Tuesday

Portage

Teams: Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, Wheeler

Schedule: Today, Wheeler vs. Valparaiso, Chesterton vs. Portage, 4 p.m.; Thursday, final, 4 p.m.

Players to watch: Bobbi Modesto, Margaret Shinn, Sunny Lee, Rachel McCrum (Chesterton); Carly Bermes, Abby Hargarten, Michelle Comerford (Portage); Allison Hauser, Lauren Kammerer, Kelly Kennedy, Caitlin Kennedy (Valparaiso); Kaelynn Loftus, Maggie Krause, Stephanie Guernsey (Wheeler)

Skinny: With Chesterton and Valparaiso, two of the DAC tri-champions reside in this sectional. The Trojans handed the Vikings their only conference loss, 3-2 on April 27. Portage suffered 3-2 losses to Chesterton and Valparaiso. Chesterton is the defending sectional champion, with Valparaiso having won the previous two.

Next: Winner vs. LaPorte Sectional winner in Portage Regional semifinals, Tuesday

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