The girls tennis team began the sectionals tournament with nine total teams competing for a spot on top. Representing on their home courts, the ACHS tennis team wanted to start strong going into the tournament.
“We were looking forward to being able to play our last few matches together as a team,” senior Fayth Vesser said. “Some of our goals were to make the best out of the whole situation with COVID-19, have fun and play our best.”
For the singles portion, seniors Mandi Paddock and Abbey Thomson participated, competing against a former state singles champion from Lakes. For the doubles tournament, seniors Audrey Selander and Vesser played together, but it was the end of the road for them when they lost to Wauconda. The other pair contending in the doubles bracket was senior Jocelyn Cabuyadao and junior Natalie Labicki.
“The atmosphere leading up to sectionals was nerve-racking and exciting,” Cabuyadao said. “This was my first time going and I thought my partner and I played so well. We had our moments, but overall we stuck through it.”
By the last day of sectionals, only two other schools were left in the bracket. Cabuyadao and Labicki battled to win 3rd place against Grayslake Central and, in a normal season, they technically would have qualified to compete at state.
“I’m confident that they would have won at least one match in the state tournament, if not two, so it’s a shame that this is where the season ends this year,” head coach Jamie D’Andrea said. “In addition to Natalie, we have a good core of players returning to the varsity line-up next year, so I’m excited about our chances to do well during the regular season and into the tournament season.”
Due to the circumstances this year, state was not an option and sectionals was the conclusion to the girls tennis season. The underclassmen and coaching staff are excited to see what can come out of next year’s season after this year’s success coming out of sectionals.
