Chesterton, Valparaiso set for title match

Updated: May 18, 2011 11:04PM

PORTAGE — You can call it a case of déjà vu perhaps, or at least label it a role reversal.

That is the scenario for No. 1 singles players Bobbi Modesto and Kelly Kennedy in today’s 4 p.m. Portage girls sectional championship. 

Modesto, a junior, won her point on Wednesday to help seal a 4-1 semifinal win for Chesterton over the host Indians. And Kennedy, a freshman, also won while helping Valparaiso sweep Wheeler, 5-0.

What is unusual about the pairing? That answer lies in Modesto’s first high school campaign.

As a standout freshman No. 2 singles player for Munster in 2009, she helped the Mustangs punch a ticket to the state finals. Her career has continued to flourish in the IHSAA tournament, including a sectional championship with Chesterton in 2010 and a 6-2, 6-3 win over Indians’ talent Carly Bermes. The most recent victory came after rebounding from deficits in both sets — including a 3-2 differential in the second set — and winning the third point for the Trojans.

“I never really look at being down as a negative,” Modesto said of the slow starts. “Sometimes when you’re out there, you can’t think too much about the score. You have to think about each score, individually.

One agenda the upperclassman is surely thinking about, though, is a return to state.

“I would love, more than anything, to go down to state with my team,” she said.

A hurdle for the Trojans (12-4), whose only loss was a 6-2, 6-3 win by the Indians’ No. 2 doubles team of Alyssa Tampier and Lauren Zack, could be the new heralded underclassman. Kennedy had a 6-3 first set over the Bearcats’ Stephanie Guernsey and then closed the door with a 6-0 finish in the next set.

“I’ll try to play more aggressive and play the point sooner,” said Kennedy who previously lost 6-0, 6-0 to Modesto. “I’m excited to play with her, because it’s always fun to hit with her.”

Trojans coach Gretchen Shinn is hopeful her squad can use its momentum against the Vikings, who they narrowly defeated 3-2 in conference and tied with as part of a three-way finish with Michigan City for DAC.

“Hopefully we can use this good playing day and hopefully use the momentum here,” she said. “And just go out there and have some fun too.”

For Vikings (12-4) coach Tim Shideler, it comes down to a swing point.

“We’ve go to turn one of those (points) around, I think we have a chance at doing that.”

Portage finishes 11-4, while Wheeler ends at 10-3.

Bearcats coach Mike Rosta is happy with his team’s progress.

“What I told our girls; this isn’t the same Wheeler from the past,” he said. “You would draw Wheeler and could play them one-handed.” 

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