It figures that the only player left representing the city of Chicago would play like a Grabowski.
While others were bundled under layers of clothes, Francis Parker’s Elizabeth Epstein played sleeveless and winning tennis in the cold and the wind at the girls state tennis tournament Friday at Prospect.
The sophomore (22-0) defeated her off-season doubles and practice partner, Highland Park’s Julie Flanzer, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3 in a two-hour-plus baseliners’ marathon.
“I was actually really warm,” said Epstein, the No. 2 seed. “I didn’t feel comfortable playing in my sweater. The sleeves on my long-sleeve shirt were a little long. I adjusted–and it worked.”
So did her strategy after dropping a close second set.
“I was a little frustrated with myself. I had a match point,” she said. “I was like, `Just forget about it.'”
Also advancing was Grayslake Central’s Lynne Poggensee-Wei. The 3-4 seed and lone remaining senior defeated 2005 state runner-up Taylor Marable of Hinsdale South 7-6 (2), 6-4.
Poggensee-Wei (27-0) went up 4-1 in the first set before Marable went on a four-game tear. Poggensee-Wei broke Marable’s serve to tie the match and also recovered from a 2-0 deficit to begin the second set.
“There were a few streaks where I didn’t play as well as I did the other parts of the match, but that’s to be expected,” she said. “You have to be ready to compete at all times. I knew it would be a good match.”
Deerfield sophomore Rachael White defeated top-seeded Mallory Weber of Belleville West in three sets. Hinsdale Central freshman Hanna Mar defeated 3-4 seed Katie Kargl of Downers South.
In doubles, top-seeded Courtney Dolehide and Nida Hamilton–the freshmen from Hinsdale Central–and second-seeded Nadia Zoubareva and Nicole Lipp of Lake Forest advanced. Upset winners Moline (Erica Englebrecht and Sara McLaughlin) and Belleville West (Carli Connors and Abby Allgire) also moved on.
Hinsdale Central tops the standings with 38 points, 10 more than Deerfield.
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dsurico@tribune.com
