Lakeshore and Midtown-Palatine came together once again in a space of 2 days to vie for the NCW4.0 Friday trophy. Lakeshore pulled together a 4-2 win over Midtown-Palatine in the NCW4.0 Wednesday league so in the back of both teams minds was the question, “Will the outcome be different this time?” Some of the players played with the same partner and some of the players played with someone different. Some played up a court and some played down a court. But in the end, Lakeshore remained dominant pulling together a 5-1 win over Midtown-Palatine. On court 1, LSSF’s Melanie Liss/Rachel Ellis struggled but prevailed in a 3 set match against MTP’s Karen Majerczak/Joanna White winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. On court 2, LSSF’s Beth Milligan/Jessica Arnold played against MTP’s Dina Skinner/Wendy Rowden and won 6-3, 6-3. On court 3, LSSF’s Jennifer Roche/Annie Hesser had a close match against MTP’s Maureen Ahern/Sue Levy. On court 4, LSSF’s Sarah Koleno/Alissa Wiedelman took on MTP’s Liz Freeman/Shelly Cohen winning 6-2, 6-3. On court 5, LSSF’s Tracey Sartino/Laura Keener remained focused in their win over MTP’s Jennifer McKenna/Brigid Quint. And on court 6, MTP’s Robin Mussar /Tomoko Sekigami pulled out MTP’s only match win, with a 6-2,6-3 win over LSSF’s Sue Smith/Joan Hoese.

NCW4.5-Open Singles Champions-NRC

Singles is a great way to see your strengths and weaknesses. No partner to blame. There’s only yourself to figure out how you are going to counter your opponent. In some cases, you’ve played your opponent multiple times and you know what you need to do but sometimes the execution is difficult to implement. In other cases, you’ve never encountered your opponent but have been given some tips on how to play them. Such was the case in the matchups in the NCW4.5-Open Finals. Northbrook was meeting Midtown-Bannockburn 2 for the 2nd year in a row. On court 1, MTB’s Sunatcha Breslow played a long match against NRC’s Terri Gordon. Both know each other’s game well. As Terri put it, “Sunatcha’s going to bring me into the net and then lob me.” Sunatcha’s strategy worked but she had to work hard for every point 7-6(7), 5-7, 1-0(2). On court 2, NRC’s Linda Traeger and MTB’s Megumi Grove had never played each other before. Both players have a great all-around game with pinpoint groundstrokes and the ability to take time away from their opponent. After being down most of the 1st set Linda pulled ahead to win 7-5 only to lose some steam in the 2nd set, losiing 2-6, before winning the match tie-breaker 10-8. On court 3, NRC’s Ann Taylor (yours truly) played against MTB’s Susan Heiser. Susan has been working on her game and came on like gangbusters. She took the lead and was ahead 3-0, when Ann buckled down and closed out the set and match 6-3, 6-2. On court 4, NRC’s Liesel Jankelowitz played against Karyn Sardar. Karyn suffered her only loss against Liesel during the regular season. Liesel played aggressively in the 1st set and won 6-0 but Karyn pushed back only to succumb 6-3 in the 2nd set. Pictured from L-R: Linda Traeger, Terri Gordon, Ann Taylor, Liesel Jankelowitz

NCW4.0-4.5 Singles Champions 2016 MTP 1

Midtown-Palatine has two singles teams in the NCW4.0-4.5 Singles league and as a testament to their depth both teams made it to the playoffs. RC Lake Bluff extinguished the possibility of an all Midtown-Palatine final by taking down the Midtown-Palatine 2 team 3-1 to make it to the finals. Midtown-Bannockburn was favored to win since they ended the regular season in 1st place but Midtown-Palatine 1 slithered past them winning in games 37-31. The showdown took place at Midtown-Bannockburn. There were a few changes in positioning and players in RCLB’s lineup from their semi-final match while MTP 1’s team remained largely intact. On court 1, RCLB’s Beth Ann McFadden took on MTP’s Keeley Hart and won 6-2, 6-2. That was RCLB’s only win. On court 2, MTP’s Karen Majerczak played against Fauzia Alsikafi and won 6-2, 6-3. On court 3, MTP’s Renee Buxton had a tight match against Zoya Mirza winning 6-4, 6-4. And on court 4 MTP’s Jodie Shield didn’t let up against RCLB’s Kate Amaral. Pictured MTP 1 (left to right) – Coach Krisztina Anderko, Keeley Hart, Cassie Miller, Karen Majerczak, Jodie Shield, Sue Levy (captain), Renee Buxton, Linda Zucco, Eileen Felicelli. Not pictured: Sharon Ehrens, Rosy Hugener

Midtown-Palatine’s NCW4.0Wed team just suffered a loss to Lakeshore the day before, so Midtown’s 3.0 team wanted to bring home a win for the club. Lakeshore’s team wanted to continue their winning streak. Everyone fought hard!!! Three of the four matches went to 3 sets and the two setter could have gone to 3 sets as well. Matches were tied 2-2. It was the 2 set match on court 2 that gave MTP the edge and the championship! On court 1, MTP’s Ki Kellen/Alicia Wickler played against LSSF’s Carey Goldblatt/Leslie Lancry. MTP started out well, but LSSF pushed back in the 2nd only to lose the momentum in the 3rd. MTP won 6-1, 5-7, 6-2. On court 2, MTP’s Michelle Hoffman/Stacey Tomczak took on LSSF’s Chrissy Baccich/Colleen Farrell. It was all business for MTP in the 1st set which they won 6-0 but LSSF wasn’t about to fold. They pushed back but couldn’t quite get the match to the 3rd set. MTP won the 2nd set 7-5. On court 3, now that was a close match. I didn’t get the 2nd set tie-breaker scores but LSSF’s Lindsay Freeman/Christine Weil won 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 (5) against MTP’s Lori Bowling/Gail Wolf. On court 4, LSSF’s Janet Larson/Veda Maniquis also had a 3 setter against MTP’s Cherrie Han/Molly Louden. LSSF won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

This year the NCW3.0 Experience Championship took place. This is the only league where we have two sets of playoffs offering the players who are new to CITA and to competition an understanding of what the Playoff is all about because it is different from the regular season. During the regular season you have 2 hours to complete 3 sets. But during the playoffs we play 2 out of 3 sets and it is untimed. In the semis, the women play a 3rd set match tie-breaker, the men do not; they play out the 3rd set. In the finals, both men and women play out the 3rd set. For women new to competition, all this can seem overwhelming or exciting depending on your perspective. While the Experience Championship does not come with a trophy, our hope is that the experience will entice you to further your journey into the tennis world and come away with new friendships and a better understanding of the game.

This year Midtown-Chicago played against North Shore in the NC Women’s 3.0 Experience Finals. Midtown-Chicago had the benefit of winning their two matches in two sets. North Shore also won two of their matches but won in three sets. When there is a match tie, we count sets won. In this case Midtown-Chicago won 6 sets and North Shore won 4 sets. On court 1 NSRC’s Monica Morales/Debroah Hogan won in 3 sets against MTC’s Kimberly Young/Aisha Sharif 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. On court 2, MTC’s Susan Hodson/Kathy Clark played against NSRC’s Hana Rivkin/Marcia Johnson and won 6-0, 6-3. On court 3 NSRC’s Karen Marino/Elizabeth Ciccolini won in 3 sets against MTC’s Monica Hughson/Christy Grove 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. On court 4 MTC’s Gina Hutchings/Jen Pramenko played against NSRC’s Lynn Golschmidt/Theresa Croghan and won 7-5, 6-1. Nice playing everyone.

NCW4.0Wed Finalists - Midtown-Palatine

Lakeshore made it to the finals last year after beating Midtown-Palatine in the semis but they were stopped short by Midtown-Chicago who won the Championship in 2015. But sometimes a loss forges a will to win. This year LSSF met MTC in the semis and moved passed them to get to the Finals. Midtown-Palatine slinked past North Shore winning by one set. While MTP moved past the semis this year and got to the finals, LSSF put their dreams of a championship on hold. This year Lakeshore held up the Champion’s trophy with a 4-2 win over Midtown-Palatine. Maybe next year we’ll see Midtown-Palatine holding up the trophy. On court 1, MTP’s Karen Majerczak/Joanna White played against LSSF’s Amy Leadstrom/Vina Manquis. They had just played against each other the month before winning the first 2 sets 6-3, 6-2, and losing the 3rd set 7-5. During the finals LSSF took the 1st set 6-4 which set something in motion with the MTP team because they powered through the 2nd set 6-0 and the 3rd set 6-2. On court 2, LSSF’s Rachel Elli/Melanie Liss was “on” against MTP’s Wendy Rowden/Dina Skinner. On court 3, it was a tie-breaker in the 3rd set that decided the match. LSSF’s Jennifer Roche/Jessica Arnold played against MTP’s Liz Freeman/Shelly Cohen. The tie-breaker was 7-5 – very close. Could have gone either way. On court 4, LSSF’s Sarah Koleno/Laura Keener played against MTP’s Maureen Ahern/Sue Levy and won 6-3, 6-2. On court 5, LSSF’s Penny Trowbridge/Tracey Sartino played against MTP’s Robin Mussar/Patrice Lindberg and won 6-3, 6-3. On court 6, MTP’s Jennifer McKenna/Brigid Quint played against LSSF’s Sue Smith/Joan Hoese and gave MTP their 2nd court win. MTP 4.0 Wed Finalists- pictured L-R: Shelly Cohen, Sue Levy, Maureen Ahern, Dina Skinner, Liz Freeman, Jen McKenna, Brigid Quint, Patrice Lindberg, Robin Mussar, Wendy Bowden, Joanna White, Karen Majerczak

NCW3.0-3.5 Singles Champions 2016 MTP

For two years in a row, Midtown-Palatine and RC Lake Bluff have met each other in the finals. Some of the players have changed. Midtown-Palatine moved a few of their players from last year into the next higher level singles league which allowed their players to be challenged. RCLB kept their court 1 player from last year and added a few new players to their roster. On court 1, RCLB’s Lyla Chandy took the match to a 3rd set match tie-breaker against MTP’s Megan Elwell winning 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (9). On court 2, MTP’s Michelle Kondrat won against RCLB’s Camille Prindle. While their previous meetups produced wins on both sides, Michelle’s game was on this time. She won 6-2, 6-1. On court 3, MTP’s Elizabeth Jimenez played against RCLB’s Debbie Yurenka. It was the 1st time they had played against each other. Elizabeth came out the winner with a 6-3, 7-5 win. On court 4, MTP’s Ki Kellen who had a stellar year playing singles, won against RCLB’s Gigi Warren. Midtown-Palatine won 3-1 against RC Lake Bluff. Word has it that MTP’s coach, Krisztina Anderko, has a fan in Romania. Krisztina’s coach and father was cheering the team on from Romania. How cool is that!

To say that the teams from RC Lake Bluff and Libertyville are rivals would be an understatement. For the last four years, the Racquet Club of Lake Bluff has held up the trophy. Libertyville came very close to taking the trophy away from them 2 years ago but that was then. RCLB’s team for the finals was Peter Krizman (captain), Dennis Dobrin, Nick Andres and Johannes Tauscher. Libertyville’s team was Matt Deans(captain), David Currie, Jim Nelson and Jon Stauffer. RCLB took the top 3 courts and Libertyville won the 4th court due to retirement. RCLB raises the trophy once again winning 3-1.

RCLB Men's 4.5 Singles Champions

This year we split the Men’s Singles into two levels. There is a stalwart group of guys who are willing to get moving early in the morning. The season started with five teams with four of the teams making it to the playoffs. This year Midtown-Palatine was out of the running being the 5th place team which left Libertyville, College Park, Five Seasons and North Shore to duke it out in the Playoffs. The 1st place team Libertyville played against the 4th place team North Shore. BUT Libertyville had a bit of bad luck with one of their players getting sick that morning and another of their players injuring himself in the 1st set. North Shore edged out Libertyville to get to the finals by taking the match to 3 sets on court 1. College Park had to get past Five Seasons to make it to the Finals which they did winning 3 out of the 4 matches. College Park played North Shore in the Finals winning 3 matches. Two of the matches went to a match tie-breaker but the solid wins on courts 1 and 3 gave CPAC the advantage. They got to take home the trophy!

CPAC Men's 4.0 Singles Champions

For those of you who are not playing in the CITA Singles Finals or 3.0 Doubles Finals, there is an American Cancer Society tennis event being held at various clubs around the North Shore. Please go to www.acsnorthshorewomensboard.com and click on Events – North Shore Tennis for more information.