Highland wins girls tennis sectional for first time since 2019

What has become a special season for the Highland girls tennis team became even more special on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 16.

After a strong first day of play on Saturday, the Bulldogs netters turned in another top-shelf performance on Monday, claiming the Class 1A Althoff sectional championship at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville. The Bulldogs, who on Saturday qualified Ruthie Manor at No. 2 singles and Josie Wojcikiewicz and Sophia Fleming at No. 2 doubles individually, won the first sectional championship since 2019.

“It was a great weekend for us,” Highland coach Zach Plocher said. “It’s the first one since 2019 and then that was the first one for years and years before 2019, so 100 percent it feels good and it’s momentum builder going into the next couple of years too.”

The only downside to the tournament was their No. 2 doubles team of Abby Chalfont and Maya Pollard falling short of the state cut on Saturday.

Chalfont and Pollard ended their season in the third round by Natalie Beck and Kennedi Taylor of Father McGivney, losing a 6-0, 6-0 decision.

“I thought that our second doubles entry in there was going to have a good chance and they were close but they drew a tough team for qualifying as they drew the doubles team that ended up winning the sectional,” Plocher said.

Highland came into Monday’s team portion of the tournament holding a two-point lead over Mississippi Valley Conference rival Triad and the Bulldogs ended up holding off Triad 21-20 to win the sectional title.

“Going into the second day, my singles entry had a nice win in the opening round and that’s kind of the reason we had the two-point lead because she had a nice win in the opening round and my doubles team had a win to get to qualifying,” Plocher said. “So going in I just knew that we needed to at least win our first match in doubles and possibly compete in the final there and then we needed to get at least one win in the singles to be in a good spot.”

Manor lost to Andie Green of Triad 1-6, 6-3, 1-6 in the semifinals but rebounded against Bree Desmond of Althoff with a 6-4, 6-1 victory to take third place on No. 2 singles.

Wojcikiewicz and Fleming advanced to the championship round before falling to Beck and Taylor of Father McGivney losing a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 championship match.

Next up for Highland is the Class 1A state tournament as the Bulldogs will head north to the Chicago area on Thursday to compete for state honors at Buffalo Grove High School.

“I think there’s a good chance for our doubles team of Sophia and Josie to compete and be an all-state team which might be the first time in Highland history ever for a doubles team (to do that) and then I think Ruthie has a really good chance to do it with a couple of good wins as well,” Plocher said.

Plocher believes the key to the trio advancing past Thursday will be playing well on the first day. “It’s a very big day and it’s very important to get at least two wins is what they’ve got to do to make it to the next day, so I think that’s very doable for both of them,” Plocher said.

This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 10:10 AM.