Friday brought more rain and more indoor play. Gabbie played her first match against Lexi Chionis from Chicago Christian and won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Chionis was a freshman and Gabbie’s power was just too much for her. Gabbie then played a very strong player from Wheaton Warrenville South, Emma Li. Li has a powerful forehand and a solid baseline game. Because Gabbie had been sitting for some time and Li had just finished playing, Li was able to race out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. But Gabbie gradually got warmed up and began retrieving Li’s powerful shots and working her way back into the match. She pressured Li by attacking her second serve and broke her four times to take the first set 6-3. In the second set Gabbie began to dominate and pulled away and took the match 6-3, 6-2.

Gabbie’s third match of the day was against Lyons Township’s Tina Harazin. Harazin plays a strong all court game and both players came out swinging with big serves, strong returns, and heavy ground strokes. Gabbie dropped the first set at love but came back in the second and was playing on even terms with Harazin until 3-3. Gabbie dropped serve and Harazin held for 5-3. Gabbie served and held to make it 5-4 for Harazin and serving for the match. Harazin took the set and the match 6-0, 6-4.

U-High’s Girls Tennis team had a superb state tournament and ended up with its highest finish ever.  Everyone on the team won points:  Rachel Sylora, Laura Anderson, Leslie Sibener, and Brianna Solola all won points at doubles, and combined with the points that Gabbie Clark won at singles, U-High was able to finish tied for 12th place. Well done U-High Girls Tennis!

Senior Gabbie Clark had three wins and one loss at state this year. Gabbie’s high school career at Lab has been an exemplary one: four times a state qualifier, twice a sectional singles champion, and a top 16 player at state for three years in a row. Gabbie plans to play Division III college tennis at Emory University.  We wish her the best of luck in her college tennis career.

Posted on October 24th, 2009 by ghanck
Filed under: HS Girls Tennis