Embedded Files
2020-2021
Week 5 (9/21-9/27)
Varsity - Lara Santa-Ines & Kaya Trumbo
Narrowing it down for Eagle of the Week honors this week was not easy! With so many standout performances across our seven matches, we had no shortage of deserving recipients, but Kaya & Lara were just too good not to earn the award. Through the week, in several must-win situations, these two came through big. On Monday the pair cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 first doubles win at PR before splitting up for wins at first and second doubles in the Tuesday rematch and again in Wednesday's McHenry match. Thursday, Kaya made the move to first singles, leaving Lara at first doubles as they helped lead the team to a sweep of the Chargers. Over the weekend, the girls went a combined 7-0 with crucial wins at first doubles together and second and third singles (Lara with a clutch come from behind performance) to edge Jacobs past Huntley.
Weeks 3 & 4 (9/7-9/20)
Varsity - Isha Desai
With an IHSA State appearance and FVC titles at first and second doubles, junior Isha Desai has been a big performer for us from day 1! Recently, Isha was asked to take on a challenging role with a move to singles. Isha gutted out a tough three-setter as she got her bearings, but has since demonstrated her dominance. Over the past four matches, Isha has lost only ONE game (that includes a 6-0, 6-0 win over that same opponent who took her to three sets only a week earlier!!!) Hard to think of a more dominant stretch. Keep it up, Isha!
Week 2 (8/31-9/6)
Varsity - Bryn Reicha
Although there was only one match this week, our CLC game-ball winner, Bryn Riecha, has proved a strong early candidate for "Most Improved Player" honors. While Bryn has always been a strong competitor with great strokes, the difference is all in the feet. That high-motor footwork was on display Thursday as Bryn took an early lead and simply ran away with it in a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win at third singles!
Week 1 (8/24-8/30)
Varsity - Anya Wieczorek
While nursing some leg discomfort, Anya has repeatedly dug deep to drive the team forward and set the tone in the first week. At Hampshire, Anya and Lissie fought to a tough straight set win to open the season. On Thursday, Anya's energy and fight made the difference in a three set battle with Huntley to clinch the team win. Over the weekend, though limited to doubles only, she made the most of it, capturing wins at second and third doubles, respectively, over Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove in the college-format quad. The success we have this season will be due, in no small part, to the fight we bring to every match, and Anya's setting the bar for that so far!
2019-2020
IHSA Sectional Week (10/13-10/20)
Varsity - Chloe Siegfort
Only a month into her return from a broken leg, freshman Chloe Siegfort has continued to make noise in the area. On the heels of her FVC title, Chloe earned a trip to the prestigious Illinois State Tournament with a runner-up finish at the Cary-Grove Sectional. On Friday, Chloe was efficient, racing through her first two rounds to qualify. On Saturday, she knocked off a tough Barrington opponent in the semifinals before falling in a tough match in the finals.
FVC Week (10/7-10/12)
Varsity - Lindsay Cunningham & Isha Desai, Chloe Siegfort, Kaya Trumbo, and Lara Santa-Ines
The Fox Valley Conference tournament yielded several outstanding storylines. On a beautiful Thursday, the team had a great day of tennis collectively to capture the title led by Lindsay and Isha, who earned top honors at first doubles, Chloe, the first singles champion, Kaya, who made a statement dominating the second singles flight, and Lara, who played mature tennis to win it all at third singles. These five will will carry that momentum into the week as they join Lindsey Taylor to compete in the sectional to earn a spot in the prestigious state tournament.
Week 7 (9/30-10/6)
Varsity - Lindsey Taylor & Tania Vesselinova and Lissie Kontos & Bryn Reicha
Plenty of heroics as we closed out the regular season.
On Monday, Lindsey & Tania resumed their darkness-suspended match with Cary-Grove. Serving at deuce but trailing 4-5 in the third set, the girls lost started with a double-fault, but stayed focused and fought their way to a 7-5 win as we beat CG 5-2. That ultimately proved a must-win in the FVC regular season points race as Jacobs edged the Trojans by a single point.
In our season ending match with Crystal Lake Central, we knew 5 points would be good enough for a share of the FVC championship, while six points would clinch the title outright. When Isha won her third singles match, Jacobs led 5-1 with Lissie & Bryn still on-court. The pair's match was a rollercoaster; they dropped the first set 2-6, came back to split with a 6-4 effort, and finally closed things out with a dominant hold to win 7-5, putting Jacobs in sole possession of the year end crown!
Week 6 (9/23-9/29)
Varsity - Lindsay Cunningham & Isha Desai
There's no question who this week's top performers were. Facing their toughest week of conference competition, the first doubles pair of Lindsay and Isha extended their unbeaten streak and solidified themselves as THE team to beat. On Tuesday, Linds & Isha performed efficiently in a tidy 6-1, 6-1 win over Prairie Ridge. On Thursday, the pair faced the only other unbeaten team in conference, the returning first doubles FVC champion Cary-Grove Trojans. Undaunted, the Golden Eagles duo took control early, winning 6-1, 6-2, leading Jacobs to a crucial team victory as they enter the home stretch of the regular season points race.
Week 5 (9/16-9/22)
Varsity - Kaya Trumbo
Few players had as good a week as sophomore Kaya Trumbo. On Tuesday, Kaya played first singles in our home match with McHenry, winning 6-0, 6-0. Picking up where she left off, on Saturday, Kaya, playing at second doubles, won her opening round of the Elk Grove Invitational with another 6-0, 6-0 result and started off with a 6-0 first set over Libertyville before the rain arrived. Oh, and did I mention that Kaya was also named the sophomore class' Homecoming Queen?
Week 4 (9/9-9/15)
Varsity - Tania Vesselinova & Lissie Kontos
What a week for Tania & Lissie...On Tuesday, Tania and Lissie each earned straight set wins over FVC rival Huntley at second and fourth doubles, respectively. On Thursday at Dundee-Crown, Tania moved to third singles while Lissie filled in at second doubles, both picking up another important conference win. In split-squad action Saturday, Tania and Lissie found themselves playing together for the first time and made the most of it. With two dramatic three-set wins, the duo went undefeated at the Belvidere North Invitational, earning first place honors!
Week 3 (9/1-9/8)
Varsity - Hannah Strauss & Anya Wieczorek
Hannah & Anya (Hanya?) picked up a crucial decision at 4th doubles in the FVC opener, edging out Hampshire in a back and forth 6-4, 7-6(7-4) battle. With the points race expected to be especially tight for the regular season team title this year, there's no doubt that the match was a must-win for the Golden Eagles' championship aspirations.
Week 2 (8/26-8/31)
Varsity - Lindsey Taylor & Lara Santa-Ines
Linds and Lara made the most of their first time playing together. After a pair of wins, the senior/freshman duo found themselves facing off in the semifinals of our 16-Team Invitational against the top-seeded St. Charles East team. Following a hard-earned 6-3 opening set, the Saints raced back to take the second set, but Lindsey and Lara were able to stop their opponents' momentum and sneak out with a 3rd set match tie-break to advance. In the final, it was all Golden Eagles as they stormed past Lake Park to capture the 2nd doubles title. Ultimately, their wins proved crucial in putting the team on the podium for overall hardware!
Week 1 (8/19-8/25)
Varsity - Alison Gerhardt & Samantha Seibert
Al and Sam wasted no time making an impact in their debut weekend as regular varsity contributors. The pair cruised to a pair of third doubles wins Friday night to help the team record shutout victories over Palatine and Hersey. On Saturday, in the quarterfinal round of our 32-team tournament, with the team score knotted at two apiece between Jacobs & St. Charles North, Sam & Al proved the heroes racing back from a 2-5 deficit to lead 6-5 in the second set and erasing a 15-40 deficit to capture a 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 win, clinching a semifinal berth for the team. These juniors are off to a great start and it's just the beginning!
2018-2019
Week 9 (10/8-10/14)
Varsity - Ramya Nissankula & Rebecca Mudge
Following a tremendous regular season in which they posted an undefeated conference record, Ramya and Rebecca faced an uphill battle heading into the sectional tournament. Though they were ultimately eliminated by a Barrington duo that proceeded on to a berth in the finals, Ramya and Rebecca never let up and, to the very end, set an example for the standard of excellence to which we hope our athletes will aspire.
Week 8 (10/1-10/7)
Varsity - Kaya Trumbo & Isha Desai and Carolyn Atkinson & Angelina Adame
The Fox Valley Conference season-ending tournament held plenty of drama for the Golden Eagles, but freshmen Kaya & Isha seemed to fly high above it all. After an undefeated regular season run, the pair didn't skip a beat, taking home championship honors without dropping a single set in the tournament.
Seniors Carolyn and Angelina, however, had more than their fair share of dramatic moments. After battling their way through quarterfinal and semifinal competition, they contributed to an instant classic with Cary-Grove in the finals. Having dropped the opening set, the Golden Eagles fought back to earn the split and force a deciding third set tie-break, ultimately falling 9-11. Despite coming out on the short side of the decision, the quality was transcendent. Not only the best 4th doubles match I've ever seen, but also one of the best played matches I've ever been privileged to watch. Both sides played at the highest possible level in an emotional tug-o-war from which there truly was no loser.
Week 7 (9/24-9/30)
Varsity - Katherine Neruda & Tania Vesselinova
It took two days and three sets, but Katherine and Tania were able to dismiss a tough Gator opponent at third doubles. After taking close first set, an imminent storm interrupted the match. Upon resuming, South came out hot and took the second set, but Katherine and Tania regrouped and played some of their best tennis of the season, closing out the final set 6-1 for an important conference point.
Week 6 (9/17-9/23)
Varsity - Lindsay Cunningham
Playing a familiar Prairie Ridge opponent, Lindsay was dialed in. Highlighting the focus and tenacity she's capable of, Linds dismissed her opponent with a clinical 6-0, 6-1 result.
Week 5 (9/10-9/16)
Varsity - Lindsey Taylor, Hannah Strauss & Kelsey Fitzgerald
Lindsey put together a nearly perfect week of singles play with a conference win over McHenry followed by a dominant run in the Galesburg Invitational. Her run to the 2nd Singles title left her opponents utterly bewildered. One came off court exasperated, saying "did you see her serve!?! How am I supposed to hit that?!?"
Hannah & Kelsey earned a rare share of the Eagle of the Week honors with a possibly unprecedented achievement. The first year juniors, who joined the program a week into the season with no prior experience, had never played a varsity match before Saturday. In fact, the pair hadn't even played a match in the JV starting lineup! On a split-squad super Saturday of competition, Hannah & Kelsey were pressed into action at 2nd doubles in the Rockford Jefferson Quint. In the five team event, they fought to a 3-1 record including a narrow 8-7 victory over Rockford East to claim runner-up honors, a remarkable feat for two rookies. Coach Scheurich was especially complimentary of their energy and coachability. We're excited to see these two continue their tremendous growth!
Week 4 (9/3-9/9)
Varsity - Ramya Nissankula & Rebecca Mudge
The top doubles tandem went a perfect 5-0 this week with three dominant performances bookended by a pair of down-to-the wire three set wins. To kick off the week, Ramya and Rebecca held off a strong challenge from Huntley's top pair. Next, convincing results over Dundee-Crown and Glenbard North carried them to the weekend where they competed in the Belvidere North Invitational. In Belvidere, they were able to dispatch the host team in straight sets before a late third set rally got them past a Newman Central Catholic team with state tournament experience. Their efforts have earned them not only first doubles champion medals, but also Eagle of the Week honors. We're looking forward to another strong week of performance and growth from these two, who are improving every match.
Week 3 (8/27-9/2)
Varsity - Katherine Neruda & Tania Vesselinova
In their debut together, it took Katherine and Tania a while to gel as a team. After a tight first six games, though, the pair clicked and were off to the races, winning the next nine games straight to close out their conference opener 6-3, 6-0 over Hampshire at third doubles. Though rain put a dampener on the rest of the week, the future looks bright for these two this season!
Week 2 (8/20-8/26)
Varsity - Lindsay Cunningham
As a sophomore, Linds was new to the top singles position, making gains throughout the fall, finishing with a great post-season run. This year, Lindsay has returned to the first singles spot as a leader ready to truly establish herself. At our 16-Team Invitational, she showed clear signs of the growth she's made and the lofty goals she has set for herself. After dispatching a tough Bartlett opponent in the opener, she found herself across the net from the tournament's second seed, a player who had beaten Lindsay 6-4, 6-1 in 2017. But this time around, the growth Lindsay has made over the past year was on full display. In dominant fashion, Lindsay dispatched the second seeded Nazareth player 6-1, 6-2. It's going to be an exciting junior campaign!
Frosh/Soph - Maddy Reicha
Having started in our Jacobs Junior Eagles Tennis Camps, Maddy has since stepped up her training with classes at the Racket Club and the preparation is already paying off. In her freshman year, Maddy has been thrust right into the squad. This week, Maddy and her partner recorded the only JV win at Warren and, in split-squad action, captured a pair of varsity second singles wins at the Hampshire Quad. It's going to be a great four years for this young player!
Week 1 (8/13-8/19)
Varsity - Kaya Trumbo & Isha Desai
The freshmen duo made an immediate splash in their debut on the varsity lineup. Playing in the second doubles position, Kaya & Isha played a key role in our 32-Team Invite success. On Friday, they recorded dominant wins over Elgin and Carbondale. On Saturday, their 7-5, 7-6 win over St. Charles North proved to be the all-important clinching point to advance to the Final 4. After a tough match with Glenbard West, the pair found themselves in a tight three setter with Lockport. While they lost that match, it was clearly a sign of a bright future ahead for the freshmen.
Frosh/Soph - Alison Gerhardt
Al made the most of her call-up to the varsity squad. She recorded the squad's sole win over Carbondale, a three-set barn-burner at second singles and followed it up with a dominant performance over Elgin. What an exciting start for a player who has made tremendous growth over the off-season and looks poised for a strong sophomore campaign!
2017-2018
State Week (10/16-10/22)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp & Kylie Skepnek
Following dominant runs through the conference and sectional tournaments, the senior duo put together a strong showing at the state tournament, extending their high school careers by a day as they advanced to Friday, ultimately falling to a tremendous O'Fallon pair.
Sectional Week (10/9-10/15)
Varsity - Lindsay Cunningham
In her first sectional, Lindsay Cunningham came up HUGE! In the state-qualifying round, the sophomore dropped the first set before scraping together a 4-3 lead in the second when darkness postponed the conclusion. On Saturday, she returned focused and ready to compete. Closing out the continued set 6-4 before rolling through the deciding third set 6-0 to punch her ticket to the prestigious state singles tournament where she will join 63 of the state's best players.
FVC Week (10/2-10/8)
Varsity - Rebecca Mudge
With the team capturing a fourth consecutive conference title behind strong performances up and down the lineup, this week's Eagle of the Week honors could have gone in several directions. Rebecca, who entered the tournament as the 4th seed, upset the top-seeded player from CLS (who hadn't dropped a set all season!) before gutting out a 3-set win over the second seed in the championship match to earn her first individual conference title and help the team win the hardware again.
Week 5 (9/25-10/1)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp & Kylie Skepnek
It was a huge week for the first doubles' duo. After a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins over both McHenry & Dundee-Crown to finish their Fox Valley Conference regular season run with an unblemished 8-0 record, Haley and Kylie took their momentum into the Lockport 32-Team Invitational, where they went 5-0, with a statement win over a Lockport team that is one of the strongest pairs in the state.
Week 5 (9/18-9/24)
Varsity - Amber Seong
Amber's versatility and resilience were on display this week. After a heartbreaking 3-set loss to Cary-Grove on Tuesday, she bounced back with a crucial win over Prairie Ridge on Thursday. On Saturday, an absence forced her into the singles lineup, where she played first singles and stunned the 2nd seed in Oswego to reach the semifinal of the 16 player draw before the heat forced a postponement of the event.
Week 5 (9/11-9/17)
Varsity - Ramya Nissankula & Brianna Japkowski
Ramya and Brianna had a dominant week as they moved into the second doubles position, recording a win over Huntley Tuesday and a three-set win Thursday to clinch the 4-3 win over Crystal Lake South. On Saturday, the pair took home the First Doubles title at Elk Grove, beating Wheeling in the first round, upsetting top-seed Libertyville in the second round, and second-seeded Grayslake Central in the championship match.
Week 4 (9/4-9/10)
Varsity - Nikole Gilman & Paige Shiakallis
New partners Nikole & Paige stayed strong to save matches against Crystal Lake Central and Hampshire with three-set and tie-break wins to ensure 7-0 sweeps of both opponents to kick off conference with an unblemished record.
Week 3 (8/28-9/3)
Varsity - Rebecca Mudge
Rebecca makes her Varsity Eagle of the Week debut after a runner-up performance at the third singles position at the Fremd Invitational. Rebecca opened up with a rematch against St. Charles East, winning 6-3, 6-1 to set up a semifinal with Fremd. Though she dropped the first set, Rebecca fought back to take the second set, forcing a third set tie-break, which she eventually won 10-5. Despite a hard-fought loss in the championship match with Libertyville, Rebecca proved she's ready for a big year on varsity!
Frosh/Soph - Lissie Kontos
While Lissie had a solid week of competition, including wins over Downer's Grove South and Schaumburg, it was the hard-work and initiative she has shown that earned her FS EoW honors. After discussing her serve as an area for improvement, Lissie took it upon herself to put in the work on her own. There's no greater feeling for a coach than to find a player who has made the commitment to work on their own game. Keep it up, Lissie!
Week 2 (8/21-27)
Varsity - Lindsey Taylor
Lindsey wasted no time making a strong case for "Most Improved Player" honors as she made the jump from Frosh-Soph 2nd singles to what will undoubtedly be a regular spot in the starting 11! On Friday, she made her final Frosh-Soph appearance, winning the Ottawa Nite Lite Invite with Rachel at 1st Doubles. She turned around to play 2nd Doubles with Katherine on Saturday in split-squad action, going 2-1 with a pair of hard-fought 3-set wins! Very excited for what this sophomore has ahead of her!
Week 1 (8/14-20)
Varsity - Amber Seong & Ramya Nissankula
Despite being a last minute pairing, the new duo took little time to gel as a doubles team, posting a solid record in the second doubles position, posting a .500 record against a who's who of talented opponents. The great play they demonstrated will surely factor in centrally in the long-term outlook for doubles pairings this season.
2016-2017
End of Season Awards
MVP - Katie Toomire & Kylie Skepnek
110% - Haley Steinkamp
MIP - Brianna Japkowski & Ramya Nissankula
Sportsmanship - Lindsay Cunningham
Week 8 (IHSA Sectional)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp
Haley entered the sectional as a 5/6 seed in a singles field loaded with talent. In the opening match, she found herself in a nervy first set, ultimately hanging on for a 7-5, 6-1 win. The victory advanced Haley to a qualifying match opposite the 3/4 seed from Mundelein. Though she started off in a 1-6 hole, Haley never lost confidence in herself. Bolstered by great crowd support, Haley gutted out a 6-4 second set before racing to the finish line with a 6-2 decider to punch her ticket to the State Tournament.
Week 7 (FVC Tournament)
Varsity - Katie Toomire & Kylie Skepnek, Marie Beyer & Nikole Gilman, Brianna Japkowski & Ramya Nissankula, Lindsay Cunningham
Too hard to split hairs here...our unprecedented 7-player Eagle-of-the-Week honors comes the same week as our equally unprecedented 3-peat as Conference Champs. We had great contributions from every player in the lineup. Below are highlights from the crucial wins these individual champions had that proved the turning point in our title run.
Katie & Kylie: With the tournament on the line, these two played their most dominant tennis in the championship match, dispatching Prairie Ridge in straight sets to become the first Jacobs girls to win the First Doubles flight in the Fox Valley Conference.
Marie & Nikole: In the semifinal match at second doubles, Marie and Nikole started perfectly, taking the first set 6-1, but dropped a tough 5-7 decision in the second. In the deciding third set, Marie and Nikole stayed focused to win 6-3. In the finals, they trailed Huntley 2-5 before battling back to win 7-5, 6-1.
Brianna & Ramya: The sophomore pair didn't have an ideal start to their semifinal matchup with Crystal Lake South. The Gators took a close first set and maintained momentum to lead in the second set before Brianna and Ramya righted the ship to force a deciding third set. In a back and forth battle, the Golden Eagles' duo held on to win 6-3.
Lindsay: In the most dramatic match of the season, Lindsay started off her championship match in a demoralizing 0-5 hole to her Crystal Lake South opponent. The freshman demonstrated incredible maturity and mental toughness, battling back to shock her opponent, winning 12 straight games, ultimately closing things out 7-5, 6-2 for the title!
Week 6 (9/26 - 10/4)
Varsity - Allison Nichols & Paige Shiakallis
Allison and Paige have turned in a solid season at fourth doubles and capped off the regular season with a pair of lopsided conference wins (McHenry & Dundee-Crown), and three big non-conference wins (Elk Grove, Batavia, Carmel). In their match with Batavia, Al and Paige were one of the last matches on court. Their three set win proved the decider as Jacobs edged the Bulldogs 4-3.
Week 5 (9/19-9/25)
Varsity - Brianna Japkowski & Ramya Nissankula
The sophomore pair started off the week in a hole to Cary-Grove, but stayed focused to complete the three set win. On Thursday, against a solid Prairie Ridge team, Brianna and Ramya simply proved to be too strong, winning in straight sets. Over the weekend, the two found themselves in the 16-Team Lincoln Way-West Invitational playing first doubles in split-squad action where they nearly upset one of the tournament's top seeds, losing in a close three-setter.
Frosh/Soph - Katherine Neruda
Katherine has proven herself at both singles and doubles as she has been called upon to fill both throughout the season. On Saturday, moving to second singles from her regular doubles position, she found herself atop the podium, going 3-0 to win the Ottawa Frosh-Soph Invitational against a strong field of opponents.
Week 4 (9/12-9/18)
Varsity - Marie Beyer & Nikole Gilman
The second doubles pair wrapped up the week 5-0 with wins over two of the conference's top contenders, Crystal Lake South and Huntley and a championship performance at the Galesburg Invitational.
Varsity Reserve - Africa Gasco
After picking up a doubles win at Warren, Africa made her first Saturday trip, where she picked up a win at second singles as Jacobs went undefeated at the Rockford Jefferson Varsity Quint.
Frosh/Soph - Kailey McNally
At the Belvidere Frosh-Soph Invitational, Kailey dropped the first set of her third place match, but bounced back to win in three sets, taking third place and picking up the team point that clinched the title for Jacobs.
Week 3 (9/5-9/11)
Varsity - Lindsay Cunningham
After an injury default win in her conference opener, Lindsay earned wins in Thursday's Hampshire/Marian double header. On Saturday, after a four-hour rain-delay, she paired with teammate Haley Steinkamp to record a doubles win before backing it up with a strong singles win over Chicago-Latin. Though she fell in her final match of the day to Lincoln Way-East's number one singles player, the freshman standout showed great composure and plenty of promise and should figure to be a core contributor for years to come.
Varsity Reserve - Kelsey Rago & Shianne Terlecki
Though a rain-out delayed their return to the courts following a multi-week absence, the pair fought hard in a losing effort Thursday to Marian. Undettered, they bounced back to pick up an upset win over St. Charles North's top doubles team at the Bloomington 16-Team Invite.
Frosh/Soph - Tania Vesselinova & Kaitlyn Skorburg
The Freshmen duo has continued to put up strong results. After an undefeated first week of conference competition, the two young players recorded the only varsity win in split squad action as they stole a win from Woodstock North in Belvidere before rain washed out the day's play.
Week 2 (8/29-9/4)
Varsity - Katie Toomire & Kylie Skepnek
Katie and Kylie showed a blatant disregard for seeding on Saturday as they busted the first doubles bracket at the Fremd Vikings Invitational. Unseeded, the pair started up the day with a three-set defeat of the third-seeded Buffalo Grove duo before dispatching the second-seeded Fremd team, who had finished top-16 in state in 2015. Katie & Kylie's second place finish in the tournament helped lead the Golden Eagles to a strong team finish at the event which is filled with talented schools.
Frosh/Soph - Vanessa Bogs
With a handful of last minute scratches from the Saturday rosters, Vanessa eagerly stepped up to fill in. Though she played some very tough competition at the Rolling Meadows Quad, Vanessa kept a positive attitude and focused on making improvements that will pay great long-term dividends for the freshman.
Week 2 (8/22-8/28)
Varsity - Allison Nichols
Though the rain limited her matches in week one, Al was able to avoid the storms, playing second singles in Moline over the weekend. Despite preparing exclusively for doubles, the senior adapted to the challenge, falling just shy of the individual title, losing 2-6, 6-3, (5-10) in the championship match to Geneseo.
Varsity Reserve - Kelsey Rago & Shianne Terlecki
Playing in the top doubles position, seniors Kelsey and Shianne recorded a pair of lopsided victories this week. Slated to compete in the Moline United Varsity Invite Saturday, the carpooling partners had to withdraw after their car was rear-ended on their way to the bus. Although shaken up, the pair walked away, thankfully, unharmed, and look poised to have an outstanding final season.
Frosh/Soph: Rebecca Mudge
The sophomore has had a strong start to the season. After opening up the week with a straight set singles win over Marian Central, Rebecca picked up a dominant doubles win against Belvidere North. To close out the week, Rebecca put on a strong performance Friday night in Ottawa at first doubles leading the to the title at the Night Light Invite.
Week 1 (8/15-8/21)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp
As varsity jumped out to a 5-0 start to kick off the 2016 season, there is no shortage of worthy Eagle of the Week recipients, however, Haley Steinkamp, who has stepped into the top singles position, had an especially remarkable start. In her opening match against Elgin's Marta Krakowski, a top-32 state seed a year ago, Haley gritted out a tough three-set win which she followed up with wins over Lake Forest Academy and a second state qualifier from Carbondale.
2015-2016
Week 10 (10/18-10/24)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
Ashley, again, set the standard in her final week competing as a Golden Eagle. Though she fell just short of her goal, Ashley played excellent tennis at the state tournament, finishing with a 2-2 record on the weekend. Ashley finished her high school career with an impressive mark of 137-35 (exclusively at the first singles position), was a 4-time state qualifier (twice a sectional champion), was a 2-time conference champion, was selected as our area's Player of the Year, and, most importantly, was recognized as a Pitchford Award Finalist for her outstanding character and sportsmanship.
Week 9 (10/11-10/17)
Varsity - Alexa Azcui & Katie Toomire
In their first sectional tournament appearance, the junior duo played some of their best tennis of the season in a 6-1, 6-3 quarterfinal win over Crystal Lake South to punch their ticket to the prestigious state tournament. This will be the final year for the State Finals in their current configuration. Starting in the fall of 2016, State will move to two divisions, halving the draw.
Week 8 (10/4-10/10)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp
Following a tough weekend of competition at the Lockport Invitational, Haley bounced back with a dominant performance at first singles over Johnsburg before heading into the FVC Tournament. The sophomore breezed through the first day of play and dismissed the third seed from PR in the semifinals 1&1. In the title match, she narrowly fought off a tough challenge from her CLS opponent, taking the first set in a tie-break before shifting into a higher gear to sweep through the second set 6-0, capturing her second conference title in as many years.
Week 7 (9/28-10/3)
Varsity - Maggie Corbett & Kylie Skepnek
The first year pairing has continued to quietly put in an outstanding season together. After a decisive win over Huntley to remain undefeated in conference, the duo knocked off Marian Central before heading to Lockport. In the pivotal match with Downer's Grove North, Maggie and Kylie came through with the match-clinching win to help the team advance to the Elite-8 in the 32-team event. Though Maggie was unable to continue in the tournament due to the SAT (which we know she did great on), Kylie filled in at second singles with our second group, helping to lead Jacobs (Gold) to a D-Flight title with wins over Hillcrest, Plainfield South, and Oak Forest.
Week 6 (9/23-9/27)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
While many players put up great performances this week, Ashley's selection as Eagle of the Week was a no-brainer. On Tuesday, with the match knotted up at three apiece between Jacobs and perennial powerhouse Prairie Ridge all eyes were on show-court, where Ashley was in a tense match with the conference's other top singles player, Annie Timm. Though she hung on to win the first set 6-4, Ashley was clearly showing signs of cramping on-court. Slowed by muscle cramps, Ashley struggled to keep pace in the second set. With their contest all level, Ashley fell behind in the deciding set. At 4-5, love-40, Ashley faced triple match point but never gave up. Playing some of the most fearless tennis I've ever seen, Ashley willed herself back to win the game, going on to take the set 7-5, clinching the team victory and handing Prairie Ridge their first loss of the season. It was truly a transcendent athletic performance and, by far, the most compelling match I have ever been a part of! Ash, way to show us that as long as there's still a point to play, the match is never over.
Frosh-Soph - Carolyn Atkinson & Angelina Adame
It was another extremely successful week for the Frosh-Soph team, who picked up wins over Prairie Ridge, Dundee-Crown, and Belvidere North. Carolyn and Angelina started off the week with a tidy win against Belvidere North, but where they really shined was in their first Saturday tournament experience. Playing fourth doubles together at the Lockport Invitational, Carolyn & Angelina remained undefeated in five contests to take the title. A great start from a team we're excited to see more from!
Week 6 (9/15-9/22)
Varsity - Nikole Gilman
Stepping in to the varsity lineup on short notice, Nikole picked up our first conference third singles win of the season, dismissing Grayslake Central. She continued the positive trend with another dominant performance at Grayslake North, helping us record back to back 7-0 shutouts in conference play.
Frosh-Soph - Paige Shiakallis & Maddy Garcia
This freshman doubles pair has been putting together a strong record all season long. Following another week of solid play, the pair were called up to compete in the Rockford Jefferson Varsity Quad, where they went a perfect 3-0 on the day in the second doubles position.
Week 5 (9/7-9/14)
Varsity - Alexa Azcui & Katie Toomire
In a rain-shortened week, Alexa and Katie continued to compile strong results at the top doubles position. Adding to their tournament successes, the girls extended their unbeaten streak in conference with a solid win over Cary-Grove.
Varsity Reserve - Rachel Bunke & Sofia Gjata
Rachel and Sofia had a solid week at both the JV and Varsity levels. The pair picked a JV win over Lake Zurich and the sole victory against York before heading into the weekend's varsity tournament, where the duo were called up for the Dundee-Crown Varsity Invitational. Though they played well, Rachel and Sofia fell in a tight three-setter to Conant before recording their first varsity win, beating Palatine's fourth doubles team 6-4, 6-0.
Frosh-Soph - Ramya Nissankula & Brianna Japkowski
In a heated three-way race for the Belvidere FS Invitational, second place honors hinged on the second doubles championship match where Ramya and Brianna faced off against the always talented Rockford Boylan. Having dropped the first set, the pair fought back to win the title in three sets, putting Jacobs one point ahead of Boylan to capture a team plaque.
Week 4 (8/31-9/6)
Varsity - Rachel Schillmoeller & Christine Puleo
Rachel & Christine had another outstanding week playing in the fourth doubles position to remain undefeated on the season. On Tuesday, the pair knocked off Hampshire before a major test Thursday against Crystal Lake South. After dropping the first set to the Gators, Rachel and Christine bounced back to capture the second and third sets to keep their conference record unblemished. Saturday, the duo carried their momentum into the Fremd Invitational, where they made quick work of Buffalo Grove, Hersey, and Fenwick en route to capturing the fourth doubles title. Rachel may also have earned the award for "most dramatic sunburn," as well!
Week 3 (8/23-8/30)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp
Haley kicked off the 2015 campaign by making short work of her McHenry opponent Thursday. She followed it up with a dominant day of play in our own Golden Eagles Invitational, capturing the second singles championship. The Northwest Herald recognized her strong opening statement, naming her their performer of the week...we couldn't agree more!
Week 2 (8/16-8/23)
All - Alexa Azcui
Although the returning 3rd doubles conference champion has yet to play a match yet, the junior's true value to the team was once again affirmed by a teammate who, in an email, named Alexa as the person she would choose to dedicate a match to, saying: "Alexa definitely deserves a day because she was always so sweet last year and always encouraged me. She's the person every freshman on the team needs to meet so they know that the older players aren't mean and that tennis is competitive and fun. Also, she volunteers and helps out so much. I think she really deserves a day for her dedication and kindness."
I couldn't have put it better myself.
Week 1 (8/12-8/15)
All - Olivia Liggio
Freshman Olivia Liggio may have had a frustrating first few days of practice, but her exemplary effort and attitude made a great first impression on the coaching staff. Though she had never played before, Olivia is staying positive and making great progress. On Friday, she was the first one to the courts and took the advantage of an opportunity to get on-court and ask a teammate questions. Keep up the great work and you'll have an outstanding four years as a Golden Eagle!
2014-2015
Week 9 (10/20-10/26)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
Despite lingering soreness from her outstanding conference and sectional tournament runs, Ashley poured herself into her matches Thursday at the IHSA State Tennis Tournament. Ashley, a junior, made the state trip for the third straight year, where she was drawn into one of the toughest Thursday sections in recent memory. As always, Ash played with heart, taking her first round opponent from York to a third set and falling to Lake Forest 4 and 3 in the the third match of the day. Despite the disappointing results, Ashley's character and effort continued to set an example and earn her fans. Hungry to take her game to the next level, we can't wait to see the run Ash will make in state next year!
Week 8 (10/13-10/19)
Varsity - Morgan Vachio & Sara Elliott
In the state qualifying match Saturday morning, the senior duo found themselves under pressure as their Crystal Lake South opponents forced a tie-break in the first set. Refocusing, Morgan and Sara earned nail-biting 10-8 win and headed into the second set with a head of steam. With their goal within reach, the Golden Eagle pair raced to close out the match and qualify for the state tournament, a first for each.
Week 7 (10/6-10/12)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy, Haley Steinkamp, Maggie Corbett, Morgan Vachio, Sara Elliott, Hannah Jackowski, Chloe Moders, Alexa Azcui, Katie Toomire, Kori Kent, Caroline Bayer
It took a complete team effort to capture the Fox Valley Conference title. Highlights include Ashley's championship run through a series of tough competition, Haley's gritty second set semifinal win, Maggie's dominant performance in a win over Crystal Lake South in the semifinal, Morgan & Sara's incredible play to close out GLC in the tournament's final match with an audience of nearly two hundred, Hannah and Chloe's rebound to capture third after a tough semifinal loss, Alexa and Katie's stunning championship win after gutting out grueling back to back matches with Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge, and Kori & Caroline's dogged fight in an emotional championship match. Outstanding performance, ladies!
Varsity Reserve - Ivana Mladenovic & Alex Kontos
Ivana closed out her season with a pair of wins. On Monday, the junior stepped up to pick up a varsity third singles win at Johnsburg and, on Wednesday, she led the team with a commanding win at the top spot in a JV match with Lakes.
Alex earned EotW honors with one final display of the great support and team spirit she has demonstrated all season. On Saturday, with varsity spread among five different host sites, Alex chose to spend her day cheering on her teammates. The extra boost was felt by our second and third singles players, who played some of their best tennis of the year!
Frosh-Soph - Neha Akula
Neha capped of the 2014 season with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win when she stepped into the fourth doubles position to play with a new partner in the varsity season finale. The win helped Jacobs to a 5-2 team victory.
Week 6 (9/29-10/5)
Varsity - Morgan Vachio & Sara Elliott
The senior tandem, with only two matches, didn't have the busiest week, but their quality of play was outstanding. With the conference tournament on the horizon, Morgan and Sara are playing their best tennis, which was displayed in their win over Huntley on Tuesday. Down 2-3 in the opening set to a very tough Red Raider pair, the girls went on the offensive and went on a 10-1 run to capture the match 6-3, 6-1.
Varsity Reserve - Emma Erdman & Jenny Lee
Having only recently started playing together, the new partners were tested right away. A thrilling three set win over St. Charles North kickstarted their partnership and made them eager to jump at the chance to fill in for a last-minute varsity tournament opportunity. There, the duo was pressed into action at first doubles. Though they dropped both matches, Emma and Jenny played tough tennis and acquitted themselves well with competitive, attacking play.
Frosh-Soph - Nikole Gilman & Kylie Skepnek
On Friday, Kylie and Nikole were pulled up to play at the varsity second doubles position in the 32-team Lockport Invitational. The freshman pair appeared unintimidated by their upperclassmen opponents and unfazed by the blustery conditions as they captured two strong wins, going undefeated on the day.
Week 5 (9/22-9/28)
Varsity - Haley Steinkamp
It was a busy week for the freshman. In conference play, Haley went 2-0 on the week with an absolutely essential win over conference powerhouse Prairie Ridge. Following her Dundee-Crown match on Thursday, she dismissed Marengo's first singles player. On Homecoming Saturday, Haley showed off her all-court game with three consecutive wins. En route to the championship match, Haley knocked off both St. Charles North and Batavia's number one singles players. The final was an excellent display of tennis, but, ultimately, fell to Nina Bertino, a likely top-32 contender in state.
Varsity Reserve - Emily Mrzlak & Emily Stypinski
Emily and Emily have long embodied the spirit of the Golden Eagles tennis program. Their outstanding character is undeniable and their work ethic is outstanding. These traits made Thursday's Senior Night all the more special. In their starting lineup debut, these two exemplary seniors made the most of their opportunity, overcoming an early deficit to capture an 8-5 come-from-behind win at the third doubles position against Marengo. Very well earned, ladies.
Frosh-Soph - Allison Nichols
Sophomore Allison Nichols picked up a pair of Homecoming week wins. On Tuesday, Allison's 6-3, 6-2 win at third singles contributed to a 6-1 route of Prairie Ridge. On Thursday, an absence forced Allison to move to the second singles position, where she won in straight sets, securing a 4-3 win over district rival Dundee-Crown.
Week 4 (9/15-9/21)
Varsity - Alexa Azcui & Katie Toomire
Katie and Alexa had another outstanding week. The sophomore tandem started the week by breaking the deadlock of a 3-3 tie with Grayslake Central to capture the win and preserve the team's undefeated record in a nail-biting match. They carried that momentum into Thursday, where they knocked off Crystal Lake Central. On Saturday, the pair made the long trek to Galesburg, where they ran into the top seeded Sacred-Heart Griffin team in the semifinals of the first doubles draw. Playing some of their best tennis of the season, Katie and Alexa fought back to steal the second set and scraped for every point in a narrow three set loss before bouncing back with a dominant performance to capture third place honors.
Varsity Reserve - Teagan Sullivan
Teagan answered the call on short notice to make the trip to Galesburg where, in typical Teagan fashion, she served as an enthusiastic leader for the sleepy-eyed Golden Eagles' squad. Playing second singles at the varsity level, Teagan's positive attitude paid off. After dropping her first two matches, she dug deep to earn a two-hour long 7-5, 6-4 battle over Macomb.
Frosh-Soph - Kylie Skepnek
Moving up to varsity for the Rockford Jefferson Quad didn't phase Kylie, neither did playing with a new partner. The newly minted short-term duo picked up two must have wins in the tournament to finish in a close second, mere points behind Hampshire.
Week 3 (9/8-9/14)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
After dominant performances in conference competition Tuesday and Thursday, Ashley raced through the field at the 16-team Lincoln Way-East Invitational to capture her first regular season high school title.
Varsity Reserve - Christine Puleo & Rachel Schillmoeller
Christine and Rachel put up a great effort, filling in at the second doubles position in the Lincoln Way-East Invitational, the pair played smart team tennis, picking up two crucial victories to help the team to a strong finish.
Frosh-Soph - Amber Seong
Amber kicked off the week with a singles win over Cary-Grove before moving to doubles for Tuesday's Grayslake North match, where she recorded another win. At the Belvidere Invitational, Amber and her partner held off a strong challenge from Rockford Boylan in the second doubles championship match, winning the title with a 6-4, 7-5 win.
Week 2 (9/1-9/7)
Varsity - Kori Kent & Caroline Bayer
This EoW award came down to the wire. With outstanding performances this week throughout the lineup, it took a dominant, championship performance Saturday to clinch the honor. After earning wins over Hampshire and Crystal Lake South during the week's conference matchups, Kori and Caroline traveled to the Fremd Invitational with a full head of steam. In short order, the girls topped Libertyville and St. Charles East. Those wins set up a championship match with a pair of Hersey seniors. With Jacobs and Hersey tied in the lead for the team title, the 7-5, 6-4 win meant the difference as Jacobs clinched the Fremd Invitational teach title for the first time with 42 points, narrowly edging out Hersey who had 41 points.
Varsity Reserve - Jess Barber & Megan Donahue
After a lopsided loss to Crystal Lake South on Thursday, the girls entered Saturday's Belvidere North Quad with a bad taste in their mouth. Playing 3rd doubles at the varsity level, the senior duo put together their best performance of their careers. With a tight three set win over the host school and lopsided wins over Woodstock North and Elgin Academy, the girls finished a perfect 3-0 on the day.
Frosh-Soph - Nikole Gilman
Freshman Nikole Gilman made the most of her first full week in the program. Competing against Hampshire, Crystal Lake South, Rolling Meadows, and Downer's Grove South, Nikole remains the only player in the entire Golden Eagles' program with an unblemished 2014 record. Let's keep the streak going!
Week 1 (8/25-8/31)
Varsity - Maggie Corbett
Maggie, typically the last player on court in any given match, started off her junior year, uncharacteristically, with a quick dismissal of her third singles opponent from McHenry. Not wasting any time, the junior moved to the first singles position for the East Moline-United Township Invitational. There she played excellent tennis, dropping no more than three games in any set to roll past her opponents for the individual title, helping the team capture first place honors.
Varsity Reserve - Christine Puleo & Rachel Schillmoeller
Christine and Rachel started off their season with a thrilling three-set first doubles win against area-power Batavia. After putting in extra hours on the ball machine following Friday's practice, the pair answered the call to fill in at the varsity second doubles position at Saturday's 16-team Golden Eagles Invitational. The duo competed well against some strong opponents, ultimately finishing in 12th place after picking up a win over Bartlett.
Frosh-Soph - Marie Beyer
Marie picked up where she left off last fall, nearly unbeaten at the FS level in 2013, Marie and her partner, Neha put up a dominant result topping McHenry's FS first doubles pair on Thursday. Marie was then asked to make a significant jump in competition to fill in at the varsity first doubles position when a team backed out of our 16-team invitational. In a field that included a number of state qualifiers, Marie battled to finish 2-3 on the day, good for an 11th place finish. Only a sophomore, Marie looks to figure prominently in the program's success for years to come.
Preseason (8/13-8/24)
Freshmen - Chris Castaneda
Thursday, during a water break outside the fence, Chris tripped over a backpack and came down hard near the bleachers. The trainer made his way out quickly to clean her many scrapes and tape up her right hand, which was bloodied and swollen. After sitting on the sidelines for a few minutes to collect herself, Chris came back out to the court. Because she was having trouble gripping the racquet in her right hand, she asked if she could continue learning using her left hand. Pretty awesome! Keep up the great attitude, Chris, we're thrilled to have you in the program!
Sophomores - Olivia Bogs & Katie Baldwin
No doubt still sore from Coach A's famous windsprints last year, these two have made a point of sticking around every day to ensure that not one ball or water bottle has been left behind. Hopefully their efforts will not be needed going forward. Way to look out for your teammates, girls!
Junior - Teagan Sullivan
Very few players have been working as hard as Teagan. Keeping up the great effort she has shown all summer, Teagan has stayed after practice each day this week to work on improving her serve. Outstanding!
Seniors - Morgan Vachio & Sara Elliott
Though I'm not entirely sure whether they're doing it out of the goodness of their heart or whether it's a way of making sure I don't order head-to-toe brown jumpsuits, Morgan and Sara have taken on the task of designing, ordering, and distributing this year's spiritwear. The options look great and they've even brought in samples for the girls to try on. Thank you both for putting this together!
2013-2014
Week 9 (10/21-10/27)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
As the lone representative for Jacobs, sophomore Ashley Kosy entered the state tournament with the goal of making her teammates proud. Despite the worst conditions of the season, Ashley fought through blustery wind and bone-chilling cold for a strong start. Dispatching Glenwood's Rachel Odin in the first round 6-1, 6-0. This set up a second round matchup with Lexi Petrovic, a Nazareth Academy senior with a top-8 seed and runner-up doubles honors to her credit. Ashley competed well, but, ultimately, was outplayed by Petrovic. Bounced to the tournament's consolation draw, Ashley rebounded to breeze past Peoria Notre Dame's top singles player. That win set up Ashley for an unlikely matchup with Sycamore's Angeline Ye, a top-16 seed motivated to recover following an unexpected upset in the tournament's opening round. The loss to Ye marks the end of the team's 2013 season. Hungry for a deeper state run in the future, Ashley will be leading her teammates into a productive off-season program in preparation for a successful 2014.
Week 8 (10/15-10/20)
Varsity - Sectional Seniors: Rachael Buttolph, Miranda Corbett, Emma Nickoley, Dena Kontos
A trio of heartbreaking losses has us bidding farewell to these four young women a week too soon. All four had lofty goals of qualifying for the state tennis tournament and have dedicated themselves over the course of their careers to achieving this goal. I can't say enough about each of these girls, both as determined competitors and outstanding individuals.
In her state qualifying match, Rachael ran into Larkin's Meryl Hansana, a fellow senior. The two fought for every point over the course of an epic three-set match as each vied for her first state trip. Ultimately, Meryl strung together a series of games to close out the third set.
Miranda Corbett and her partner, junior Morgan Vachio, both in their first year starting in the varsity lineup had compiled an excellent season playing in the first doubles position. On the heels of their all-conference finish a week prior, the pair opened the sectional tournament well before running into a young South Elgin team that played tough tennis to eliminate Miranda and Morgan and, ultimately, took runner-up honors.
Emma & Dena have worked tirelessly over the past four years to transform themselves into a great doubles team. As juniors, the two played fourth doubles. In their senior year, they made the jump to second doubles. In both seasons, they finished in second place. Though their undefeated conference regular season and strong non-conference results earned them a seed in the sectional tournament, an unfortunate draw pitted them against a newly formed pair from Elgin Academy. The EA team, led by their long-time first singles player, played excellent tennis, knocking off Dena and Emma in a well-played, roller-coaster three-set match.
It has been an honor to coach these four young women. Though they fell shy of their ultimate goal of earning a state trip, we hope that they'll reflect on all of the tremendous things they have accomplished, as we do, with great pride.
Week 7 (10/7-10/14)
Varsity - Lauren Bayer & Sara Elliott
The fourth doubles duo put together another strong week of tennis as they wrapped up the season and, for senior Lauren Bayer, a career of great improvement and determination. Early in the week, the pair knocked off Dundee-Crown's first doubles team but fell just shy of upsetting South Elgin's first doubles team, losing in a tie-break. Despite this narrow loss, Lauren and Sara headed into the season ending conference tournament determined to keep their conference record unblemished. Losing only seven games in three matches, the senion-junior team reached their goal, recording an undefeated conference-championship season in their first year playing varsity and their first year playing together. Outstanding job, ladies!
JV-Brown - Maggie Corbett
Maggie answered the call up to varsity this week, competing at Woodstock and on the Moline trip. The week got off to a rocky start as Maggie needed a third set to defeat her Woodstock opponent, but with a full week before the Moline odyssey, Mags returned ready to play and, jumping into the second singles position, went a perfect 4-0 on the Quad Cities swing.
Week 6 (9/30-10/6)
Varsity - Emily Halvorson
In a rain-shortened week, Emily recorded five wins in four days. On Monday, at the Waubonsie Valley Quad, Emily played some of her best tennis under the lights, coming back from a set down to capture back to back three set wins over St. Charles East and Lake Zurich. She followed that up with a routine 10-4 dismissal of York's third singles entry. On Tuesday, Emily rolled past her opponent from Huntley before wrapping up the week with a first singles victory over Elgin Academy.
JV-Brown - Alexa Azcui & Katie Toomire
It was a busy week for the freshman duo, who stepped up to pick up two varsity wins on a day of split squad competition in advance of the season-ending Golden Eagles JV Invitational, where the two dominated their competition, winning the second doubles flight.
Week 5 (9/23-9/29)
Varsity - Lauren Bayer & Sara Elliott
Lauren and Sara earned repeat "Eagle of the Week" honors with a near-unblemished record on the week. Early in the week, the pair turned away some of the conference's toughest competition, knocking off Prairie Ridge. A dominant performance in their win Thursday over cross-town rival, Dundee-Crown kept the pair undefeated in conference competition. On Homecoming Saturday, Lauren & Sara moved up to the second doubles position for the Lincoln Way-North 16-team invitational, where they battled their way past a host of tough opponents to capture fifth place honors.
JV-Brown -
JV-Gold -
Week 4 (9/16-9/22)
Varsity - Emma Nickoley & Dena Kontos
The long-time duo went 4-1 on the week, recording two conference wins and a second place finish in the first doubles' flight of the Galesburg Invitational. Knocking off a competitive Grayslake Central pair and rolling past two tough opponents following a three-hour, early-morning bus trip were impressive feats, but what stands out most was the three-set win Dena and Emma had over Crystal Lake Central on Tuesday. At CLC, the Golden Eagles seniors faced not only an undefeated Tiger team on it's home court, but an extremely hostile crowd. Keeping their composure, Dena and Emma fought back from a disastrously poor start to hang on for a tooth and nail three-set win.
JV-Brown: Alyssa Reinke & Elena Voiculescu
These seniors made the most out of senior week. Not only did they take care of business on senior week with a win over Grayslake Central, the pair roared back from a 1-5 deficit to top Crystal Lake Central's starting fourth doubles team in an exciting 9-7 match.
JV-Gold: Teagan Sullivan & Rachel Schillmoeller
Rachel joins Teagan, a repeat winner, earning Eagle of the Week honors this week for their outstanding performance at Saturday's Kaneland Frosh-Soph Invitational. The pair went undefeated to take the tournament title with two of their wins coming by way of a deciding tie-breaker. In the championship match, Rachel and Teagan trailed by four games before fighting back to force a decisive tie-breaker, which they won to hold on for the gold medal.
Week 3 (9/9-9/15)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
Following a disappointing performance at the Fremd Invitational where Ashley was visibly hindered by an injury, the sophomore toughed out one more match Tuesday before being forced to sit out the remainder of the week. Sidelined since Wednesday, Ashley came into the Lincoln Way-East Invitational hungry for some match play. She got her fill and made it to the championship match of the 16-team tournament. Along the way, Ashley knocked off the third seed (in a come from behind third set tie-break win) and the second seed (also in dramatic fashion). In the title match, Ashley played solid tennis and represented Jacobs with pride, but fell to Oswego East's Sajela Harlow who played a nearly flawless match.
JV-Brown: Shelley Seong
With Ashley Kosy out of the lineup for Thursday's varsity match, Shelley was called up to the third singles position where she played focused tennis to record a 6-3, 6-3 win over her Green Knight opponent. On Saturday, with the varsity squad split between two tournaments, Shelley jumped all the way up to the second singles position for the Lincoln Way-East 16 Team Invitational. Shelley started strong, knocking off her opponent in the first round. She then played well in a loss to one of the tournament's top seeds. In the backdraw, Shelley showed excellent resilience and determination, winning twice (once in a narrow three-setter) to reach the fifth place medal match. In the consolation championship round, Shelley took her opponent to a deciding third set but fell just shy, losing to Homewood Flossmoor, but not before proving that she'll be a player to keep your eye on for the 2014 campaign!
JV-Gold: Emma Erdman & Pam Sanan
Emma and Pam played an outstanding doubles match against Grayslake North on Thursday that put on display their resilience and resolve, but more importantly, their character and sportsmanship. It was apparent to their opponents, teammates, coaches, and spectators what great class and character these two young ladies conduct themselves with both on and off the court. Even in defeat, the duo kept their heads held high and proved themselves to be the embodiment of the virtues we strive for as members of the Golden Eagles tennis program.
Week 2 (9/2-9/8)
Varsity - Lauren Bayer & Sara Elliott
Coming off their first week playing together, a week in which this duo rolled through their first two matches without dropping a game, the pair found themselves tested by some tough competition. Lauren and Sara opened up play Tuesday with a win over Hampshire, then topped Crystal Lake South in a narrow victory Thursday. Over the weekend, the girls continued their excellent play at the Fremd Invitational, notching wins against their first two opponents before falling in a very competitive championship match.
JV-Brown: Ivana Mladenovic & Marie Beyer
Called up over the weekend for a varsity event, Ivana (a reluctant doubles player) and her partner, Marie, had an outstanding weekend of tennis. The young doubles team went undefeated to capture the title at the Belvidere North Quadrangular.
JV-Gold: Alysson Reformado
Alysson's effort in practice and performance on the courts have been stellar to start the season. Over the weekend, Coach A found Alysson's help and communication invaluable as she bounced between tournament sites.
Week 1 (8/26-9/1)
Varsity - Rachael Buttolph
In a week filled with several outstanding performances (Sara Elliott & Lauren Bayer's perfect 24-0 game win streak to start the season comes to mind...), Rachael Buttolph's week stands out. After an elementary dismissal of her opponent on Tuesday, Rachael faced McHenry's Lauren Goebel, one of the conference favorites at second singles on Thursday. In a hostile environment, Rachael dropped the first set in lopsided fashion, 1-6, but came charging back to steal the second set 6-4. In the deciding third set, with most players from both teams watching from the sidelines, Rachael stayed composed and stuck to her gameplan to come away with the win, posting a 6-3 score in the final set. The win helped Jacobs to a 6-1 win overall over the host Warriors, a number that most teams will have trouble matching.
JV-G: Teagan Sullivan
Teagan has earned Eagle of the Week honors for JV-Gold as much for her performance as for her character and effort. Embracing the team motto of "Character: First. 1st: Second," Teagan has been an excellent ambassador for the Jacobs program and has established herself as a leader for the younger players. Teagan's positive attitude and enthusiasm make her a tremendous teammate!
2012-2013
Week 7 (10/1-10/7)
Varsity - Emily Alessio
In the final week of her high school tennis career, Emily displayed the qualities that have made her four years so successful. On Tuesday, Emily demonstrated great composure as she rallied in the first set to hold off one of the conference's top third singles players as the Golden Eagles wrapped up the regular season with a win over the always tough Prairie Ridge Wolves. At Friday and Saturday's end of the season Fox Valley Conference Tournament, Emily faced a tough draw but was able to earn a hard-fought three set win over Crystal Lake Central before cruising past crosstown rival Dundee-Crown on the way to the semifinals. There, she ran into McHenry's player who was Em's only loss of the conference season. Both girls played outstanding tennis with Emily ultimately falling in three sets. Maturely, she rebounded and, focused on her final match, played smart, controlled tennis to take third place with a lopsided win over Prairie Ridge.
Frosh/Soph-Christine Puleo & Ivana Mladenovic
After playing the majority of the season at singles, Ivana moved to doubles for the final match of the Frosh/Soph season, pairing, for the first time, with fellow freshman Christine Puleo. The duo found themselves in a tough match with their opponents from Prairie Ridge but ultimately prevailed in a third-set tie-break to send Jacobs to a 6-1 match win with plenty of momentum heading into the 2013 season. Great job, girls!
Week 6 (9/24-9/30)
Varsity - Rachael Buttolph
On a hectic homecoming week, Rach picked up a pair of wins over hard-fighting opponents. On Tuesday, Rachael served exceptionally well to knock off cross-town rival Dundee-Crown as Jacobs blanked the Chargers. On Thursday, Rach's efforts helped provide a fitting senior-night showing in a shutout victory over the visiting Johnsburg Skyhawks.
Frosh/Soph-Kori Kent & Caroline Bayer
The sophomore duo has continued their tremendous season with wins over pairs from some of the area's top teams. On Monday, Kori and Caroline defeated St. Charles North at home and remained unbeaten in St. Charles by knocking off St. Charles East on Wednesday. On Friday, Kori and Caroline kicked off a great Golden Eagles' Homecoming weekend with a win over Marian's top doubles team and, undistracted by the pending Homecoming dance preparations, the pair waltzed their way through the field, capturing the title with a lopsided win over Oak Park's Fenwick Friars. Their strong showing helped propel the Golden Eagles to capture the team championship, with Maine South and Fenwick only one and two points behind, respectively. Awesome Homecoming week, girls!
Week 5 (9/17-9/23)
Varsity - Ashley Kosy
A monster week of tennis at the number one singles position has earned Ashley "Eagle of the Week" honors for the second time this season. On Tuesday, Ashley opened the week with a solid win over Woodstock's Ana Fedmasu, who was previously unbeaten in conference. She then played smart tennis to turn away felow freshman, Hannah Hougland from Hampshire before making the return trip to Lincoln Way-North for their 16 team invitational. Facing a strong field of players, many with state tournament experience, Ashley won her first three matches before falling to Marian's Gaby Rosales, a state top-8 threat, in the championship match. The poise Ashley has demonstrated through the previous week bodes well for the important matches that lay ahead.
Frosh/Soph-Morgan Vachio
With such an outstanding showing at the Ottawa Invitational, it's hard to choose just one girl deserving of "Eagle of the Week" recognition. Although she fell just shy of taking home the first singles title, Morgan's outstanding effort in her come-from-behind semi-final win over Batavia clinched the team title as the Golden Eagles narrowly edged out Homewood-Flossmoor, a team with a tremendous pedigree and multiple top-10 state finishes. Way to fight Morgan!
Week 4 (9/10-9/16)
Varsity - Megan Elliott & Alina Zabolotico
The Golden Eagles' top doubles tandem had another strong week. The pair started off the week by posting a win over Cary-Grove and a tough Huntley team. Though Thursday's match with Prairie Ridge was postponed by rain, the duo brought a full head of steam into the Galesburg Invitational. Saturday's 5am departure and 3-hour drive did little to slow down Meg and Z, who rolled through their first two opponents before falling in a hard-fought championship match over a solid Sacred Heart-Griffin team.
Frosh/Soph-Hannah Jackowski & Chloe Moders
Hannah and Chloe have continued to have a stellar season. Despite an early-weak loss to Cary-Grove, the partners bounced back to put together a string of great matches, winning the third doubles flight of the Rockford Jefferson Varsity Tournament. Excellent job, girls!
Week 3 (9/3-9/9)
Varsity-Jacquelyn Hengler & Emily Halvorson
After continuing their dominance in conference competition at the third doubles position this week, the pair was called upon to play the first doubles slot in the always challenging Lincoln Way-East 16-Team Invitational. Winning their first match with a strong performance, they then fell in a competitive match with the tournament's second seed. A dominant win in the backdraw brought them to the consolation semifinals, where Jacquelyn and Emily found themselves behind after dropping the first set 1-6 to the tournament's fifth seed. Down 3-4 in the second set (in, exhaustingly, their fourth match of the day), the girls dug deep to fight back, take the set and race through the tie-break. Wasting no time, they jumped right back on court for their fifth place match where they fought hard but fell short of the win. Five hard fought matches against strong first doubles competition will surely pay off down the road as we look to make a run at the conference title. Way to battle girls!
Frosh/Soph-Morgan Vachio
After leading the way for the Golden Eagles against Grayslake Central and garnering praise from Coach Dawson, Morgan continued her strong play with a promising start in her first singles match as she led St. Charles North prior to being rained off court. Over the weekend, Morgan was called up for the Dundee-Crown Varsity Invitational where, called on the play both singles and doubles, was undefeated on the day to help the Eagles take home third place honors. It's clear that all of Morgan's off-season work is paying off!
Week 2 (8/27-9/2)
Varsity-Ashley Kosy
Stepping into the first singles position as a freshman is a daunting task. After opening the first week against the conference's best players (and a few of the state's top players), Ashley has already established herself as a force on the courts. This week, Ash knocked off McHenry and Grayslake North in lopsided matches heading into the always tough Fremd Invitational. At Fremd, she continued her hot streak winning her first two matches in straight sets to reach the final. Though the rains washed things out before the championship match could be contested, it's clear that Ashley is ready to make her mark this season.
Frosh/Soph-Sara Elliott/Mikaela Thomas
This new duo, both playing in their first season of high school tennis, have meshed quickly. Playing an aggressive, attacking, style, this pair has been racking up wins and went undefeated over the weekend knocking off Downer's Grove South, Schaumburg, and Rolling Meadows. Keep it up, girls!
Week 1 (8/20-8/26)
Varsity-Jen Regard & Miranda Curtis
With the match tied at three apiece with perennial conference rival Crystal Lake Central, this second doubles duo found themselves trailing by a set. The pair fought back to take the second set. With both schools' players and fans hanging on every point, Jen and Miranda played confident tennis to force a tie-break in the decisive third set which they won to clinch the team victory for the Golden Eagles. The pair found themselves in a similar situation over the weekend where their come-from-behind, third-set tie-break victory over Janesville in the championship match to help Jacobs capture the team title in the Elkhorn Invitational. Way to kick off the year, girls!
Frosh/Soph-Maggie Corbett
Though her debut match was rained out on Monday when she was up 5-1, Maggie made the most of her first tournament, dropping only ten games in three matches to capture the fourth singles title when she was called up to compete with the varsity squad at the Elkhorn Invite. Great start, Mags!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse