Red Devils’ Ziolkowski eyes another title

Updated: April 26, 2011 10:06PM

The road back to a West Suburban Silver championship might be a little tougher for Hinsdale Central’s Kim Ziolkowski Friday night.

The senior and Willowbrook resident won last year’s No. 1 singles title in the conference meet, but Downers Grove North’s Maureen Eckdahl appears to be a worthy challenger to Ziolkowski’s crown when the conference meet begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Hinsdale Central.

In a dual meet against Downers North April 20, Ziolkowski split sets in a loss to Eckdahl. The Trojans went 5-0 in conference dual meets and holds the advantage over the Devils’ 4-1 record heading into the Silver meet.

“I have to keep my serves far hitting to where they’re not,” Ziolkowski said about her goals. “I have to keep the birds placed (where I want them).”

Eckdahl finished second in the Hinsdale South ABCD Invitational Saturday after losing to New Trier’s Mari Georgiadis 21-9, 21-9 in the final. Georgiadis, who remains undefeated on the season, beat Ziolkowski in the quarterfinals. Georgiadis won her second consecutive title in as many weekends after winning the title at the New Trier Featherfest.

“I’ve lost twice to Georgiadis,” Ziolkowski said. “She’s good. She can hit almost everything.”

Ziolkowski went 4-2 in last year’s state meet as Hinsdale Central’s top singles player. The Devils’ top doubles team has been Claire Foster and Konstantina Rousonelos, but Downers North has been dominant in doubles this season.

It was an all-Trojans doubles final at Hinsdale South Saturday with Anna Marek and Jackie Bland beating teammates Claire Bedalov and Hannah Henson 21-10, 21-12.

“(The season) has been pretty fast for the most point,” said Ziolkowski, who has six losses this season. “We have three weeks left until state, then it’s over. It’s a short season.”

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