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Huntley ended Jacobs’ reign as Fox Valley Conference girls tennis champion last season at three years.
The Red Raiders had the depth throughout their team to overcome Jacobs’ excellence at the top of its lineup and Huntley won its first FVC championship.
The FVC could look similar this season, as Jacobs returns one of its top singles players and its top doubles team, while Huntley returns eight of its top players.
Crystal Lake Central, which took second to Huntley in the FVC Tournament, also returns several of its top players and will be a factor.
Jacobs’ Chloe Siegfort, the Northwest Herald Player of the Year, is training for her junior year at LAT Tennis Academy in Florida. The Golden Eagles will miss the two-time FVC No. 1 singles champ, although they have No. 2 singles champion Ihsa Desai, along with No. 1 doubles champs Kaya Trumbo and Lara Santa-Ines returning.
Huntley returns No. 1 singles player Ruhi Gulati, whose only losses in 2020 came against Siegfort, along with Elaina Hibbeler (No. 2 singles FVC runner-up) and No. 1 doubles player Kylie Phommasack (a sectional champ) and several others from the lineup that won the FVC title.
The Raiders will miss FVC No. 3 singles champion Alessandra Rivera and Michelle Barnvos, Phommasack’s No. 1 doubles partner, the most.
“We have a group of talented young players that will give us the depth we need to try to repeat as FVC champions,” Huntley coach Barry Wells said.
Woodstock North will shoot for its fifth Kishwaukee River Conference title in a row this season, led by No. 1 singles player Anika Treadway, along with several other top returners.
Richmond-Burton junior Savannah Webb will not play in the regular season, since the Rockets do not have a team, but should be a force in the postseason. She won the KRC Tournament at No. 1 singles and placed second in the Class 1A Antioch Sectional.
Fox Valley Conference
Cary-Grove
Coach: Amanda Schuetzle (second season)
Last year’s finish: Fourth in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Annabella Gaffaney, jr.; Brooke Iverson, sr.; Katie Jannusch, sr.; Kimberly Klawitter, sr.; Gwenn Moran, sr.
Top new players: Teagan Bowers, jr.; Maggie Groos, jr.; Addie Lee, so.; Mary Sessoms, jr.; Chloe Warner, so.
Worth noting: Schuetzle coached C-G’s varsity girls in 2012 and now returns, replacing Therese Youel as coach. … The Trojans graduated six players in their lineup, including Kate Larry, who played No. 1 doubles with Katie Jannusch. … “The lineup will look very different, but we have girls who have put some work in over the last year and are motivated to fill those vacant spots,” Schuetzle said. “This is an energetic group of girls that are good with balancing the fun with the hard work.”
Crystal Lake Central
Coach: Cory Osterberg (fourth season)
Last season’s finish: Second in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Emma Grindstaff, sr.; Natalia Piekunko, sr.; Olivia Johnson, sr.; Megan Rapisarda, sr.; Anika Richard, sr.; Grace Cullian, sr.
Top new players: Parker Zautcke, fr.; Maggie Naughton, so.; Katie Hammil, so.
Worth noting: The Tigers were fourth in FVC duals, but took second in the tournament with their strong depth. … Ellie McGinnis (No. 1 singles) and Haley Benard (No. 1 doubles) have graduated, but several seniors return, led by Grindstaff (No. 1 doubles) and Johnson and Rapisarda, who were unbeaten at No. 2 doubles in duals and won the FVC Tournament. … “We have a senior-laden lineup, so I am going to enjoy my final year with these wonderful, young ladies,” Osterberg said. “They are a pleasure to coach and have a wonderful work ethic.”
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Rick Bailey (first season)
Top returning players: Lizzy Sudbrook, sr.; Jaden Appelhans, jr.; Christina Lin, sr.; Gracelyn Gabel, sr.; Vrinda Brahmbhatt, sr.; Elena Cangelosi, jr.; Kate Howard, so.; Marissa Baietto, sr.; Morgan Lowery, sr.
Top new players: Lauren Mang, jr.; Alexis Amici, sr.; Abby Jurrens, so.
Worth noting: Bailey is South’s boys coach and has worked in the program for four years. He takes over for Evelyn Youel. … The Gators return nine starters from last season, led by Sudbrook likely will be back in the No. 1 singles spot. …”I hope with nine veteran players, plus solid newcomers we can compete in the top half of the FVC,” Bailey said.
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Yuto Tsukida (third season)
Last season’s finish: Eighth in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Rujul Shah, so.; Karina McElroy, so.; Andrew Llavona, jr.; Mia McKinney, sr.; Anna Charlie McNicholas, sr.
Worth noting: Shah played well as a freshman against some tough competition at No. 1 singles, taking fifth place in the FVC Tournament. … “I hope the girls try their best in every match and learn something new every day,” Tsukida said. “We have many seniors this year, so I hope that they pour their hearts out and have a fun season.”
Hampshire
Coach: Dylan Clark (sixth season)
Last season’s record: Tied for sixth in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Clare Hahn, sr.; Karolina Ryzka, sr.; Grace Rose, sr.; Katrina Vergera, sr.
Top new players: Gabby Montenegro, jr.; Ava Carroll, so.
Worth noting: Clark would like to see the Whip-Purs crack the top five in the FVC this season and send players to state for the first time in five years. … Hahn (No. 2 singles last season) and Ryzka (No. 1 doubles) are the leading candidates for state qualification.
Huntley
Coach: Barry Wells (17th season)
Last season’s finish: FVC champion
Top returning players: Ruhi Gulati, sr.; Elaina Hibbeler, jr.; Kylie Phommasack, sr.; Dyllan Cash, sr.; Kareena Patel, sr.; Michelle Chan, sr.; Aera Chong, jr.; Ela Hontanosas, sr.
Top new players: Kate Burkey, fr.; Arianna Patel, fr.; Delaney Stock, fr.; Carlie Weishaar, fr.; Sunni Kwon, sr.
Worth noting: The Red Raiders stopped Jacobs’ string of FVC titles at three in a row by winning the conference tournament. … Gulati (1) and Hibbeler (2) return at the top two singles spots, while Phommasack is back at No. 1 doubles. … Eight of the Red Raiders return for the FVC champs. Gulati, Hibbeler and Phommasack all were FVC runners-up.
Jacobs
Coach: Jon Betts (17th season)
Last season’s record: Third in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Isha Desai, sr.; Kaya Trumbo, sr.; Lara Santa-Ines, jr.; Vyxx Reicha, sr.; Stef Boggs, sr.; Alyana Hernandez, sr.
Top new players: Norah Roberts, sr.; Amelia Stoner, jr.; Kylie Cohn, fr.
Worth noting: The Golden Eagles were 20-1 in dual matches, 15-1 in the FVC with the lone loss coming to Huntley. … Desai, Trumbo and Santa-Ines have won their division at every FVC Tournament they have played in. Two-time FVC champion Chloe Siegfort is training at LAT Tennis Academy this year and will be missed. Desai won FVC No. 2 singles last year, while Trumbo and Santa-Ines won No. 1 doubles. … Cohn is a strong freshman the Eagles add to the lineup. … “Strength at the top won’t be enough and we will need some substantial contributions from other players if we hope to keep pace with Crystal Lake Central and within reach of a very deep Huntley team,” Betts said.
McHenry
Coach: Kyle Funkhouser (15th season)
Last season’s finish: Ninth in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Carly Bodinus, sr.; Lani Cox, sr.; Odessa Garcia, jr.; Emerson Gasmann, jr.; Katrina Neufeld, sr.
Worth noting: Funkhouser is excited to see how many of his new players will step up and compete for varsity spots.
Prairie Ridge
Coach: Gina Jasovic (third season)
Last season’s finish: Tied for sixth in FVC Tournament
Top returning players: Aleena Ciezak, so.; Caidyn Sylvester, sr.; Breanna Pollack, sr.; Lillian Manley, sr.
Top new players: Megan Clark, jr.; Madeleine Bartmess, jr.
Worth noting: Jasovic is just happy things are closer to normal after a season disrupted by the pandemic. “We are truly so grateful just to be able to be together as a group and as a team again and have a full season,” she said. “The girls are excited to embrace the match challenges this year.”
Kishwaukee River Conference
Johnsburg
Coach: Stephanie Flebbe (second season)
Last season’s finish: Third in KRC Tournament
Top returning players: Gracie Cittadino, sr.; Sarah Knutilla, so.; Jolene Cashmore, jr.; Chandler Mendlik, jr.
Top new players: Gabby Fields, fr.; Emmy Lewis, fr.; Ava Harderson, sr.; Maya Lewis, sr.
Worth noting: Flebbe is excited about the possibilities for Cittadino in the postseason. She is a four-year varsity player and finished third in the Class 1A Antioch Sectional to Lake’s Megan Heuser (now at Illinois) and Richmond-Burton’s Savannah Webb.
Marengo
Coach: Jennifer Haas (first season).
Last year’s finish: Second in KRC Tournament.
Top returning players: Ambria Baker, sr.; Bethany Christiansen, sr.; Noelle Haas, jr.; Ashtyn Martin, sr.
Top new players: Jozsa Christiansen, fr.; Alexis Castaneda, fr.
Worth noting: The Indians opened with a 3-2 win over DeKalb, winning all three matches in doubles. … Haas and Martin were Marengo’s No. 1 doubles team last season and lost in a third-set tiebreaker at the Class 1A Antioch Sectional that would have put them into the semifinals (which normally would qualify for state). They won the KRC No. 1 doubles title. … “With their experience and skill, we are looking forward to a great season,” coach Jennifer Haas said. “We are hopeful that we will send a couple girls to the state tournament this season.”
Woodstock
Coach: Jessie Justice (ninth season)
Last season’s finish: Fourth in KRC Tournament
Top returning players: Sarah Colby, sr.; Kelly Fischbach, sr.; Grace Hockemeyer, sr.
Worth noting: Justice hopes the Blue Streaks can build on the growth they made last year with 11 seniors on the roster.
Woodstock North
Coach: Bart Zadlo (fifth season)
Last season’s record: KRC Tournament champion
Top returning players: Anika Treadway, sr.; Bethany Lintner, sr.; Elle Lagerstrom, sr.; Sophia Davidson, jr.
Top new players: Kaylee Smith, sr.; Eliza Goers, jr.; Angelina Bartlett, jr.; Johanna Chavez, sr.
Worth noting: The Thunder won the KRC Tournament by a wide margin, scoring 18 points to Marengo’s 10 in second place. North also was 12-0 in dual matches. … Treadway returns at No. 1 singles for the Thunder. … “We have aspirations to win our fifth conference title and send an individual or a doubles team to state,” Zadlo said. “We are returning several players from last year’s team and need several JV players to fill spots on the varsity.”
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Marian Central
Coach: Lisa Dalton (second season)
Last season’s finish: Seventh in ESCC Tournament
Top returning players: Julia Widhalm, sr.; Selia McManus, sr.
Top new players: Kaitlin Remke, fr.; Madison Kenyon, so.; Madeline Huff, jr.; Bella Zecchin, jr.; Avery Hill, jr.; Caitlin Conner, jr.; Holly Garrelts, so.
Worth noting: Dalton looks forward to the addition of Remke, a freshman whom she expects to make an impact, whether it is in singles or doubles play. … “It’s good to have a solid base of players across the board,” Dalton said. “I’m really excited to see such strong talent onthe team through all four classes.”