On April 21, 2018, the NWW Multi-Level league played their mini-playoffs. For the championship and the trophy, the 1st and 2nd place teams, Libertyville and Midtown-Palatine, were ready to put into play all they learned throughout the season. Both teams had won 2 of the 4 matches they played against each other during the regular season. Midtown-Palatine slipped past Libertyille for the top spot by winning two additional sets and winning 7-5. This is the 2nd year in a row Midtown-Palatine has won the Multi-Level Mini-Playoffs. Congratulations! Glenbrook and Midtown-Bannockburn vied for 3rd and 4th place. There was a slight eligibility problem, but the matches played on. All in all, it was close. Both teams won 6 sets each. And the game scores came out to 55-54 with GRC winning. But because of the ineligible player, all points went to GRC.
Pictured from left: Martha Davis, Tomoko Sekigami, Jen Grady, Eileen Felicelli, Jenn Zientarski, Ki Kellen, Wendy Rowden, Jessica Wagner, Saree Peltin, Maureen Ahern, Erica Donofrio, Michelle Kondrat
Not pictured: Allison Biergans, Renee Buxton, Erica Eisner, Anne Feely, Pierina Ferruzza, Nicole Koviak, Debbie Lancaster, Karen Majerczak, Allyn Selesky, Joanna White, Alpna Yousfi

Front: Rosy Hugener, Juliana Schafer, Maura Starshak, Vina Maniquis, Kathleen Katz
Back: Coach Joey Salerno, Cheryl Cutinho, Erin Alvarez, Julia Stellar, Christine Rosenkrantz, Christine Kupfer, Cindy Yule, Mandy Shaw, Jean Sawin, Coach Mo Modesto
Far Back: Lead Coach Andy Mabadi
College Park West started the season well against Midtown-Chicago winning 11.5-6.5 but Midtown-Chicago turned the tables on them at the end of the season winning 11.5-6.5. Midtown-Chicago wins the trophy and the 2018 Champions medallions capping a solid season in this league. College Park East brought their “A” game against Five Seasons winning 15-3 and Libertyville had a decisive win against Lakeshore winning 13-5.

Pictured from left to right: Captain Dayna Imhoff, Sharon Henahan, Wendy Rowden, Allison Biergans, Rosy Hugener, Madelon Queenan, Donna Beechick, Kristen Bouchard, Becky Vallorano, Linda Zucco

Not pictured: Maureen Ahern, Rose Alberts, Renee Buxton, Eileen Felicelli, Liz Freeman, Keeley Hart, Donna Johnson, Shahnaz, Kelleher, Ki Kellen, Van Ann Kim, Davida Kozlowski, Karen Majerczak, Cassie Miller, Leslie Modelski, Suzanne Rich

Midtown-Palatine took the top spot away from River Trails winning 12-6. River Trails had dominated the league throughout the season but Midtown-Palatine had a decisive win against RTTC back in February so they knew they had a chance to give a repeat performance and they did! Congratulations to Midtown-Palatine’s NWW 4.5 Red team.

The NW Women’s 3.5 Mini-Playoffs took place on April 25, 2018 with Midtown-Chicago 1 and Midtown-Palatine taking each other on for the trophy. For three years in a row Midtown-Palatine has taken the top spot in the league, but Midtown-Chicago 1 said not so fast, we want to disrupt your winning streak and put our names on the trophy. MTC 1 won 7-5 over MTP. In the other matchups, MTC 2 squeezed by LIB 2 6.5-5.5, LIB 1 overtook FSSC 9.5-2.5, NSRC kept their 7th place finish over CPAC-E 10-2, RTTC tied with RCLB in sets but came out ahead in games 52-46, and CPAC-West 2 battled it out with their sister team CPAC-West 1 with CPAC-West 2 winning 9-3.

On April 20, 2018, the Northwest Open Championship took place. North Shore 2 was competing against College Park East for the trophy. Both teams have solid lineups and looking at the match scores the matches were competitive. North Shore has pretty much locked in on this trophy except in 2014 and 2015 when College Park East won. Congratulations to North Shore 2 for their 3-peat! Midtown-Palatine edged out North Shore 1 for 3rd place. Their sets were tied but MTP won 72 to NSRC 1’s 61 games. Northbrook edged out Midtown-Chicago and took the 5th place spot. And Libertyville remained in 7th place against FSSC. Great playing everyone and see you on the courts!

NW Women’s 3.5 Mini-Playoffs
The Northwest Women’s 3.5 season came to an end on April 26th with mini-playoffs played by all teams in the league. After 13 weeks of matches, the top 2 teams vie for the trophy with the rest of the teams trying for one last win. For the 3rd year in a row, Midtown-Palatine won the NWW3.5 mini-playoffs with a decisive win over College Park. This is the 2nd year in a row that Midtown-Palatine and College Park East faced off against each other in the mini-playoffs. Last year, Midtown-Palatine was in 2nd place going into the mini-playoffs and took the top spot from CPAC-E. This year, from the end of October on, Midtown-Palatine held on to the #1 spot for the rest of the season. The other matchups were as follows: Midtown-Chicago kept their #3 spot against Libertyville 2. Libertyville 1 moved ahead of Glenbrook taking the #5 spot. Lincolnshire won against North Shore for #7 and #8 respectively and Five Seasons and RC Lake Bluff finished off the pairings with FSSC over RCLB.

On April 22, 2017, the Northwest Women’s Multi-Level league will play mini-playoffs to cap the season. There are 4 teams in this league. For the third year in a row #1 Midtown-Palatine and #2 Glenbrook will be playing for the trophy. Two years ago MTP won by 3 games and last year GRC won 8.5-3.5. The other matchup is #3 Libertyville vs. #4 Midtown-Bannockburn.

On April 21, 2017, the Northwest Women’s Open will play mini-playoffs to cap the season. There are 11 teams in this league. For the third year in a row #1 North Shore 2 and #2 College Park East will be playing for the trophy. Two years ago CPAC-E won and last year NSRC 2 won (by 7 games no less). The other matchups are as follows: Midtown-Palatine vs. Glenbrook; North Shore 1 vs. Midtown-Chicago; Libertyville vs Five Seasons; Northbrook vs. River Trails; and RC Lake Bluff (Bye).

The season started with College Park in 1st place after the 1st match and Midtown-Palatine in 3rd place. As the season went on there came to be a 3-way tie between CPAC-East, GRC and MTP. As it happened, on that date, CPAC-East and MTP played against each other and MTP won that matchup 7.5-4.5 which gave them the points needed for the tie. Fast forward to the end of the season – College Park East was in 1st place and Midtown-Palatine in 2nd place except this time they were playing for the trophy. Last year Midtown-Palatine wrested the #1 spot from North Shore. And this year they did the same against College Park East winning 8.5-3.5. On court 1 CPAC’s Nikki Krakowski/Tiffany Simanek bested MTP’s Davida Kozlowski/Beth Zawilenski 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. On court 2, MTP’s Erica Donofrio/Allyn Selesky squeaked out a 1st set tie-breaker win over CPAC’s Stephanie Cohen/Heather Curtis then burst out with a 6-2, 1-0 win. On court 3 MTP’s Bev Vacval/Sally Fessenden won against CPAC’s Karen Borgerding/Susan Chaplik 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 and on court 4 MTP’s Elizabeth Jiminez/Alicia Tisbo won gainst CPAC’s Angelee Boyd, Anne Douglas.

Last year, Midtown-Palatine came away with the trophy against Glenbrook. This year it was Glenbrook’s turn. Glenbrook won courts 1, 2 and 3 and Midtown-Palatine took court 4. This league has a variety of levels so on match day one team may have a decisive win over the other and the next time they play it’s the other team’s turn to win. Nice playing everyone!

College Park East, who were the champions last year, will have to relinquish the Northwest Women’s Open trophy to North Shore 2. The two teams were tied in sets 9-9 which necessitated counting games. North Shore 2 won by 7 games winning 74 games to CPAC-East’s 67 games. Nice playing everyone.

Two. Give it a second to sink in. Two. As in 2 games. That’s what it came down to…2 games. The Northwest Women’s Saturday Multi-Level league ended the season on 4/25/15 with #1 Midtown-Palatine playing against #2 Glenbroook. This match was for the trophy. On court 1 GRC’s Christi Turdo and Suzanne Carr played against MTP’s Alpna Yousfi and Erica Eisner. GRC won 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. On court 2 GRC’s Natalie Diorio and Jen Grady played against MTP’s Renee Buxton and Martha Davis. GRC won again 7-5, 6-3, 6-0. GRC won the two matches that were played at Midtown-Palatine. Courts 3 and 4 were played at Glenbrook. On court 3, MTP’s Eileen Felicelli and Sylvia Nelson won their match against GRC’s Katie Sullivan and Judy Caruso 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. On court 4, MTP’s Wendy Rowden and Dina Skinner also won their match against GRC’s Amy Allen and Carolynn Carr 6-4,6-0, 6-1. The teams were tied in matches (2-2), in sets (6-6) so it came down to counting the games with Midtown-Palatine squeaking a win by two games 51-49 to bring home the trophy. WoW!!! Nice playing everyone!!
Pictured from left to right: Alpna Yousfi, Sylvia Nelson, Eileen Felicelli, Dina Skinner, Wendy Rowden, Renee Buxton, Erica Eisner, Martha Davis
Not pictured: Sheryl Albert, Janet Bell, Karen Griebel, Nedra Harris, Roberta Honquest, Debbie Lancaster, Janet Williams

College Park East won the Northwest Women’s Open league for the 2^nd year in a row.  Last year it was against Glenbrook and this year it was against North Shore 2.  Both of these teams have a nice group of strong players throughout their lineup as was evidenced by the matches.  On court 1, CPAC-E’s Allison Morgan and Audrey Koopsen played against Becky Moffatt and Donna Chudacoff.  It was a close competitive match with CPAC-E winning 7-6(4), 6-3, 1-3.  On court 2, NSRC’s Lisa Culp and Judy Bavlsik played against CPAC-E’s Sally Miller and Heather Borzak.  Lisa and Judy are very good at finding the right strategy to take away your strengths.  They won 6-4, 6-1, 2-2.  On court 3, CPAC-E’s Denise Murphy and Suzanne DeMirjian has a slow start against NSRC’s Kelly Chestnut and Tina Baldwin but found their rhythm after the 1^st set to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.  The top 3 courts finished their matches at 12:30 PM with each team winning 4.5 points.  A tie thus far.  Courts 4-6 started their matches at 12:30 PM.  On court 4, CPAC-E’s Katrina Busse and Debbie Fisch squeaked out a tie-breaker win in the first set winning 7-6 (5) but NSRC roared back with a 6-0 2^nd set win.  The 3^rd set was a tie 1-2.  On court 5, Debbie Clark and Nadine Woldenberg provided CPAC-E the needed 3 set win over NSRC’s Beth Robitaille and Carla Young.  NSRC won 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.  On court 6, NSRC’s Jen Fisher and Laura Ulrich and CPAC-E’s Nancy Moran and Patty Lambropoulos must have had some long points.  NSRC won the 1^st set 6-3 but the 2^nd set ended in a 6-6 tie when time ran out.  Nice playing everyone!

Three-peat!!!  Lakeshore did it again.  Two years ago Lakeshore beat River Trails 9.5-8.5.  Last year they beat Midtown-Chicago 11-7.  This year Midtown-Chicago edged a little closer in points, 8 to Lakeshore’s 10, but Lakeshore held them off to secure their rights to the trophy once again.  Out of curiosity, I looked at their regular season match played on 2/6/15.  The score at that match was 9-9.  Upon closer examination, not only were they tied in points but they were also tied in games.  So if this had been the mini-playoff match they would have had to share the trophy!  But I digress.  Lakeshore won 10-8 and this is how they did it.  On court 1, LSSF’s Sara Aldinger and Nancy Gaspadarek lost the 1^st set but won sets 2 & 3 against MTC’s Cheryl Imo and Kirste Gaudet.  On court 2 LSSF’s Gwen Pontikes and Beth Hermann won 2.5 points against MTC’s Laurie Gilman and Autumn Barrett.  On court 3 MTC’s Sophia Naiditch and LorRonda Miller lost the 1^st set to MTC’s Tina Chang and Hilary Bruce in a tie-breaker but took sets 2 & 3.  On court 4 LSSF’s Emily Emmerman and Anne Edwards won the 1^st set easily, lost some momentum and squeezed on a 2^nd set tie-breaker win against MTC’s Kathy Rain and Rebecca Bacote who won the 3^rd set 5-3.  On court 5, LSSF’s Tina Leopardo and Deirdre Jameson had a close match against MTC’s Claire Perry and Colette Kelsey but LSSF’s team won 2.5pts in that match.  On court 6 the only court to sweep all 3 points, MTC’s Sarah Rothman and Corinne Pinsof-Kaplan defeated LSSF’s Marta Bonner and Judy Paisner.  Nice playing everyone!

Libertyville 1 started the season in 1^st place and ended the season in 1^st place.  It wasn’t so easy getting there.  College Park West and Libertyville 1 were tied on 3/6.  It depended on the 3/20 match to sort out who would be in the trophy match.  LIB 1 won on 3/20 and CPAC-West lost that day giving LIB 1 a chance at the trophy against North Shore.  LIB 1’s court 1 team, Carola Nesbitt and Debbie Petz defeated NSRC’s, Leanne Larson and Liz Visiljevich giving LIB 1 3pts.  On court 2 NSRC’s Maria Ianucci and Margie Killeen squeaked out the 3^rd point before time ran out against LIB 1’s Linda Ballinger and Kathy Civik.  NSRC won court 3 by default.  On court 4, it was a tie.  LIB 1’s Molly Enselein and Nora Butrym won the 1^st set and NSRC’s Paige Hopkins and Traci Zirin won the 2^nd set and the 3^rd set was a tie at 3-3.  On court 5, LIB 1’s Demeke Carreathers and Terri Skupien secured the win for the team by winning 2.5 points against NSRC’s Allison Aron and Chris Leutz.  LIB 1 received a default on court 6.  The final score LIB 1 – 10pts to NSRC – 8pts.  Nice playing everyone!

The Northwest Women’s 4.5 Green and Red Mini-Playoffs are on April 17th.  For the NWW 4.5 Green league the trophy match is between North Shore and Libertyville 1.  For the 3rd and 4th place spots, College Park West will take on Libertyville 2.  And for the 5th and 6th place spots, Lincolnshire vies against College Park East.

The NWW 4.5 Red league trophy match is between Midtown-Chicago and Lakeshore.  Last year Lakeshore won.  For the 3rd and 4th place spots, River Trails will take on Glenbrook.  For the 5th and 6th place spots, RC Lake Bluff pits itself against North Shore.  For the 7th and 8th place spots, Northbrook will match itself up against Midtown-Palatine.  Five Seasons, in 9th place, will receive a Bye.

Good luck everyone!!

Midtown-Palatine held off North Shore to become the Northwest Women’s 3.5 Champions beating them 6.5-5.5.  North Shore won courts 1 and 3 and Midtown-Palatine won courts 2 and 4.  The only difference was on court 1 where time ran out and the 3rd set was tied 3-3.  The .5 pt made the difference.  College Park East came in 3rd against Lincolnshire.  CPAC-E won 6.5-5.5 by winning courts 1 and 4.  Lincolnshire took courts 2 and 3 but ran out of time on court 2 and was not able to complete the 3rd set thus splitting that point.  The5th place Racquet Club of Lake Bluff took all 4 courts against Glenbrook.  And the 7th place Libertyville team also took all 4 courts against Five Seasons.

The Northwest Leagues end the season with Mini-Playoffs.  Mini-playoffs are an abbreviated playoff format utilizing the same format as the regular season with split courts and 2 hour timed matches.  BUT…the 1st place and 2nd place finishers vie for the TROPHY!  Each subsequent pairing vies for the higher level standing.  For the NWW3.5 League, it is #1 North Shore vs. #2 Midtown-Palatine; #3 College Park East vs. #4 Lincolnshire; #5 RC Lake Bluff vs. Glenbrook and #7 Libertyville vs. #8 Five Seasons.  Good luck everyone!

The last time Lakeshore played against Midtown-Chicago on 1/24/14, Midtown-Chicago edged out Lakeshore 9.5-8.5. Looking at the mini-playoff scores from their match on 4/25, it seems as if every court was closely matched up. On court 1, LSSF’s Gwen Pontikes and Beth Herman played against MTC’s Cheryl Imo and Sophia Naiditu winning the first set in a tie-breaker 7-6(6), 6-3, 1-4. On court 2, LSSF’s Nanacy Gaspadarek and Hilary Bruce won against MTC’s Autumn Barrett and Laurie Gillman 6-4, 6-3, 3-3. On court 3, it was a battle. MTC’s Mary Jo Schuler and LorRonda Miller won the 1st set 7-5 against MTC’s Tina Chang and Lisa Hillstrom but lost the 2nd set 4-6. The 3rd set was a tie at 5-5. Wow! On court 4, LSSF’s Emily Emmerman and Lisa Gregg gathered steam against MTC’s Corinne Pinsof-Kaplan and Becky Bohn winning 7-5, 6-3, 5-0. On court 5, another battle took place. MTC’s Kristina Hilb and Colette Kelsey won the 1st set in a tie-breaker 7-6(3) against LSSF’s Marta Bonner and Joanne Blankstein, but lost the 2nd set 6-4. The 3rd set was a tie at 2-2. Another Wow! On court 6, MTC’s Claire Perry and Robin Segesta won against LSSF’s Audrey Stoval and Judy Piccione 6-4, 7-5, 1-1. The total points from the mini-playoff…Lakeshore 11 – Midtown-Chicago 7. Congratulations to both teams!

Midtown-Palatine started the season in first place and ended the season in first place beating Lincolnshire 13-5. Lincolnshire who held the top spot for most of the season wasn’t able to replicate their close win against Midtown-Palatine the last time they played against each other. Lincolnshire’s court 1, Vicki Caputo and Ann Schueneman took all three sets against Midtown-Palatine’s Suzanne Rich and Dayna Imhoff, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0. On Court 2, MTP’s Kristen Bouchard and Allison Biergans beat LINC’s Cena Glaser and Leslie Isaacson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. On court 4, Linda Zucco and Shelley Szela did not let up against LINC’s Dawn Blain and Barb Haseman. They won 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. On court 4, Eileen Felicelli and Madelon Queenan won, lost, won against LINC’s Missy Frank and Astrid Herod, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. On court 5, MTP’s Anne Collins and Donna Johnson couldn’t finish the 3rd set against LINC’s Maggie Gutkin and Heather Downes but was ahead 6-3, 6-3, 6-6 (4-2). On court 6, MTP’s Rose Alberts and Tomoko Sekigami had a very close match against LINC’s Connie Simpson and Gloria Omohundro, 7-5, 6-4, 2-2. Midtown-Palatine comes away from this mini-playoff as the champions of the NW Women’s 4.5 Green League.