When the area’s top two girls tennis players, Evanston’s Anastasia Goncharova and Niles North’s Michelle Bacalla, met in the Class AA Niles West Sectional final, it marked the third time the rivals had clashed in less than three weeks.
Goncharova’s 6-3, 7-5 win on Saturday inside the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center in Winnetka gave the Wildkits senior a 2-1 edge in the season series and evened up their high school, head-to-head record at 3-3. The match was played inside because of rain.
Of course, there is a chance Goncharova and Bacalla could meet in this weekend’s state tournament, which is hosted by several schools in the northwest suburbs. Goncharova received the second seed and is in the bottom half of the bracket, while Bacalla received a three-four seed and is in the top half. A Goncharova/Bacalla matchup could take place in the finals.
Goncharova will be heading to state with the momentum after she overcame a sore right knee, right hamstring and left shoulder and fought back from a 5-2 second-set deficit on Saturday.
“It was a big comeback,” said Goncharova, who lives in Evanston. “I was happy with the way I stayed focused throughout (the comeback), focused on each point, grinding it out, not showing her any weak spots, not showing her I was nervous that I was down. I knew I could come back.”
Evanston coach Joyce Anderson said one of the keys to Goncharova’s turnaround was her slight change in outlook.
“She just needed to stay really positive and not waste any energy on negativity. That’s how she started to get behind,” Anderson said. “Michelle started to play better, but (Goncharova) started to get tired from beating herself up. Then she stopped and was able to refocus.”
Goncharova said she spent the match trying to hit deep shots to Bacalla’s backhand, a strategy she said she employed successfully in a 6-2, 6-1 win over Bacalla in the final of the Central Suburban South tournament on Oct. 7.
Now, Goncharova returns to state, where she finished second as a junior. After suffering a dislocated right kneecap in March, which required surgery, Goncharova was cleared to play again in early August. However, she said the knee remains one of multiple ailments she is battling late in the season
“I feel prepared (for state), but (success) is going to depend on my physical state,” said Goncharova, who said her college choices have been narrowed to UC Santa Barbara, Virginia Tech and Washington.
At state, Goncharova will be joined by the Evanston doubles team of Margot Connor and Annie Hedges, both juniors, who finished fourth at the sectional.
They clinched a state berth with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Loyola juniors Maeve Silk and Catherine Power in the quarterfinals.
New Trier
The doubles team of senior Amia Ross and sophomore Ali Benedetto continue to thrive. They remained undefeated (13-0) en route to winning the Class AA Niles West Sectional title and dropped just three games in three sectional matches.
Ross and Benedetto wrapped up their crown with a 6-0, 6-0 win over teammates Emily Dale and Claire Gottreich, both juniors, who also will be competing at state.
The New Trier coaching staff first paired Ross and Benedetto together three weeks into the season, though Ross said the duo had been lobbying for the move in a not-so-subtle way.
“It was less (dropping) hints, and more outright statements,” said Ross, who lives in Winnetka.
Ross added: “We have great chemistry, our playing styles really complement each other. It was a good thing waiting to happen, and when it did, it turned out well.”
Benedetto said Ross is solid at the baseline and can rally, while she’s more comfortable at the net with volleys.
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Ross and Benedetto received the top seed at the state meet, and New Trier coach Jerry Morse-Karzen said the duo’s success will compensate for the Trevians not having a singles player at the event.
“There are a lot of points available if they are able to win it. That’s 14 points, that’s a lot of points,” Morse-Karzen said.
New Trier (16 points) won the sectional title, topping Evanston (16 points) based on a third tiebreaker.
Loyola
For a third straight year, the doubles team of Hines and Witkowski will represent Loyola at state.
However, after Maggie Hines and Caroline Witkowski qualified in 2015 and 2016, this year it will be junior Lizzy Witkowski, Caroline’s younger sister, playing alongside Hines.
The pair finished third at the sectional, bouncing back from a 6-4, 6-2 semifinal loss to New Trier’s Emily Dale and Claire Gottreich with an emphatic 6-0, 6-3 win over Evanston’s Margot Connor and Annie Hedges.
“(Lizzy) is a similar player (to her sister),” said Hines, who lives in Evanston. “They are both really strong volleyers. Our games just work really well together.”
Lizzy Witkowski said she had been hoping to replace her sister, who has graduated, as Hines’ partner.
“When coach (Tom Gordon) asked me who I wanted to play with (this season), I said, ‘Well obviously, Maggie.’ I was excited for the challenge. I think we lived up to it and we’re playing well,” said Lizzy Witkowski, who lives in Wilmette.
Gordon said Hines has a strong serve, and brings senior leadership, while Witkowski feeds off that leadership.
“Maggie’s serve is just on fire,” Gordon said. “She has to be one of the best serves in the state. She’s got lefty spin. A lot of people can’t even get it back (over the net). Lizzy is strong at the net.”
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press