North takes 2nd in UEC
St. Charles North repeated as the Upstate Eight Conference runner-up after placing second at Saturday's league tournament.
The North Stars finished only behind Neuqua Valley in the UEC. North was paced by the No. 1 doubles team of Jenna Bell and Alecia Natale. That duo downed a Neuqua tandem which had beaten North during the regular season. Bell and Natale prevailed 7-5, 7-5.
That helped North tally 31 tournament points -- nine behind Neuqua.
North also got a championship performance from No. 2 singles player Liselot Koenen, who rolled past Neuqua's Natalie Peters 6-0, 6-3 in the title match.
"She just played beautifully," North coach Tim Matacio said of Koenen. "She really came out and was all over her. And then she closed her out."
Bell and Natale, who won the No. 3 UEC doubles title last season, were also impressive, winning 6-0, 6-3.
"That was the surprise of the day," said Matacio. "Winning that in straight sets was just a phenomenal accomplishment. They have a history of rising to the occasion."
North got runner-up efforts from its No. 2 doubles team of Lauren Drawbridge and Carly Dutkiewicz and the No. 4 doubles team of Danielle Martini and Michelle Terwilleger. North's No. 3 singles player Sara Amalraj also placed second.
North was without No. 1 singles player Annemin Koenen, who is expected back for sectional action after missing this week with a shoulder injury.
St. Charles East placed fourth with 21½ points -- one-half point behind Waubonsie Valley. The Saints were led by Stefanie Youngberg, who placed second at No. 1 singles. The Saints got third-place showings from Erin Bowman at No. 2 singles and from Alana Herbrand and Lexi Baltes at No. 2 doubles.
Following Neuqua, North, East and Waubonsie in the team standings Saturday were Lake Park (17), South Elgin (10½), Bartlett (7), Streamwood (2½), East Aurora (1½), Elgin (1) and Larkin (1).
South Elgin was led by its No. 1 doubles team of Lauren Ferry and Dana Hildebrandt. That tandem placed fourth.
FVC Tournament -- Prairie Ridge won the Fox Valley Conference Tournament, scoring 160 points, 23 more than runner-up Crystal Lake South.
Jacobs (122) was third and got a boost from the No. 3 doubles tandem of Sam Thomas and Sarah Powers. They placed second.
Huntley (77) placed seventh and was led by Shannon Stanis (4th at No. 3 singles).
Dundee-Crown (42) placed 11th, three points ahead of Grayslake Central.
