ST. CHARLES – Losing is never easy.

Especially when you're used to winning.

Take St. Charles East sophomore badminton player Emma Hardy, for example. Hardy tried out for the Saints badminton team her freshman year, enjoyed it and had a fair amount of success. But there was little pressure.

In Friday's 13-2 nonconference loss to Glenbard West, many Saints moved up a spot in the lineup, including Hardy jumping into the No. 1 singles spot for the first time.

"I never expected to be this high up, ever," Hardy said. "I tried out freshman year with no pressure just looking to make the team and not caring about my position. I really wanted to make varsity this year, and it's been a lot. I love the sport, though."

Losing matches hasn't been the easiest thing to deal with for Hardy, especially Friday when she forced a third game – by winning Game 2, 21-19 – against Glenbard West's Maha Qureshi after losing Game 1, 21-10.

Although Hardy lost, 21-13, in Game 3, East coach Tricia DeNorio has continued to preach to her young squad that the experience of playing one of the better teams on its schedule in the Hilltoppers is much more important at this stage than results are.

"They're not used to losing, honestly," DeNorio said. "We have a strong program here, but are just very, very young as a team The girls are getting better and better as the season goes on, and yes we did lose today, but the girls battled and are learning to play the game better each and every day."

In fact, the improvement that Hardy has shown since her first days on varsity haven't only caught DeNorio's eye, but those of her fellow teammates.

Hiral Patel, one of four seniors and one of two singles winners Friday for the Saints (Megan Spencer was the other), said she has admired the kind of player Hardy has become.

"I look up to her a lot," Patel said. "She's really good and has gotten so much better since the beginning."

Stressing that experience is more important than results is one thing, but DeNorio actually getting the girls to believe that is a completely different animal.

One reason the East coach sees Hardy as a program leader for years to come is because of their talks talks during breaks in between games.

"When you go out on court and tell girls things, sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't," DeNorio said. "With Emma, she not only listens, but you see her go out there and do it. You tell her what she needs to do and when she comes off, she says, 'Wow it worked.' She definitely takes what you have to say and acts on it."

A lot of that is the ability to take corrective criticism at such a young age, but it also has to do with the fact that Hardy has been determined to be a good badminton player.

Since "falling in love with the game" during her freshman year at East – admitting she tried out because she had nothing to do during the spring season – Hardy began to take lessons at Midwest Badminton Club in Woodridge.

"She's playing No, 1 singles as a sophomore," DeNorio said. "Her junior and senior year, she going to be an outstanding player. Her dedication outside of the season is great, and she sees how hard teams' No. 1s are working and knows what she has to do to get to that level."

Although it may be difficult to see now, DeNorio believes the results from that "Hardy" work are just around the corner.