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Comets break through at state tennis tourney

It has been 38 years since Delavan-Darien's girls tennis program was represented at state.

In 1974, Joannie Hensey qualified in singles for the Comets.

That changed this season as seniors Sam Hoyord and Kylie Bliss punched their ticket to state in WIAA Division 1 doubles. Hoyord and Bliss will take a 15-4 record into the state meet and play Nicolet's Erin Wathen and Michelle Margolies (31-2) in Thursday's opening-round match at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.

Delavan-Darien coach Sandee Ortiz said her No. 1 doubles team was destined to play at state.

"I really thought that even back when they were freshmen, they were good enough to play at state," Ortiz said. "And after they both played singles their first three years, we put them together this season in doubles knowing it was their best shot at making it to state.

"Through their dedication and hard work, plus the fact that they've participated in our summer tennis program the last six years, they've earned the right to play at state."

Ortiz said her No. 1 team has been competitive in each and every match, including the four losses. All four losses came against doubles teams that are playing at state. Ortiz believes a first-place finish at a Monroe doubles tournament early in the season served as a springboard to the duo's success.

"Any time you get a first-year (doubles) team together, you're never sure what you're going to get," Ortiz said. "But after they won at Monroe and beat a couple of really good teams in doing it, that was probably the turning point confidence-wise for them. I told them right afterward, ‘don't be surprised if you qualify for state.'

The opening-round match is formidable for Hoyord and Bliss. Wathen and Margolies are seeded and will pose a tall task coming out of the strong Nicolet program. Ortiz says Hoyord and Bliss will not be intimidated.

"They've been consistent all season," Ortiz said of Hoyord and Bliss. "There's a lot of pressure playing in the first round, and hopefully, our team handles it better than their team.

"It comes down to limiting your unforced errors and continuing to play to your strengths. I like their chances because they play so well together."

Krajcovicova seeded seventh

Milton High junior Lea Krajcovicova is seeded seventh in Division 1 singles. The junior and foreign-exchange student from Slovakia, who is 24-0 this season, received a first-round bye and will not play until Friday morning.

Krajcovicova is in the opposite bracket of Elizabeth Konon (28-0) of Mequon Homestead, the defending Division 1 state champion. Homestead's Mardee Merar (30-0) is the second seed and would play Krajcovicova in a semifinal match Friday if both players advance that far.

Janesville Parker junior Becky Harmata takes a 12-13 record into her Division 1 opening-round match Thursday against Yuka Shiotani (17-16) of Franklin.

Cricket Gelderman (21-2) of Lake Geneva Badger and Elizabeth Murphy (20-7) will also be in action in Division 1 singles play Thursday afternoon.

WIAA State Tournament

At Nielsen Tennis Stadium

Division 1

SINGLES

(Thursday opening-round matches)

Elizabeth Murphy, sr., Milton (20-7) vs. Hayley Schlueter, sr., Menomonee Falls (19-5), 2 p.m.

Cricket Gelderman, jr., Lake Geneva Badger (21-2) vs. Elizabeth Edsell, jr., Oshkosh West (18-11), 2 p.m.

Becky Harmata, jr., Janesville Parker (12-13) vs. Yuka Shiotani, sr., Franklin (17-16), 2 p.m.

Meredith Holt, sr., La Crosse Logan vs. Lily Fisher, sr., Lake Geneva Badger (23-0), 4:30 p.m.

Lea Krajcovicova, jr., Milton (24-0) has a bye.

DOUBLES

(Thursday opening-round matches)

Joanie Williams, soph., and Andrea Chironis, soph., Lake Geneva Badger (15-2) vs. Teresa Balistreri, sr., and Lane McLaughlin, soph., Divine Savior Holy Angels (20-4), 3 p.m.

Sam Hoyord, sr., and Kylie Bliss, sr., Delavan-Darien (15-4) vs. Erin Wathen, soph., and Michelle Margolies, soph., Nicolet (31-2), 5:30 p.m.

Division 2

SINGLES

(Thursday opening-round matches)

Michala Schramm, sr., Whitewater (25-1) vs. Lianna Hawi, sr., Lourdes Academy (18-2), 7 p.m.

Annie McGrail, soph., Big Foot/Williams Bay (18-11) vs. Maria Neff, jr., Eau Claire Regis (26-4), 7 p.m.

DOUBLES

(Thursday opening-round matches)

Ellie Grossen, jr., and Chandra McGuire, jr., Monroe (19-6) vs. Rachel Rosemore, jr., and Isabel McDaniel, fr., Altoona (14-7), 8 p.m.

Paige Kloth, jr., and Abi Goode, jr., East Troy (24-3) vs. Megan Jacobson, fr. and Hanna Zevenbergen, fr., Baldwin-Woodville (18-2), 8:30 p.m.

Stephanie Nelson, sr., and Morgan Nathan, sr., Whitewater (24-3) vs. Alecia Swenson, jr., and Gabby Brucker, soph., Eau Claire Regis (24-4), 9 p.m.