5 Teams to Watch
1. Munster: The Mustangs should be in position to regain their traditional spot. Senior Nikki Heiniger returns atop the lineup. Sophomore Kaylynn Gruber also is back, as are classmate Sara Ladd and juniors Anisha Vavilala and Anna Riggs. They graduated stalwart Jessica Rooth, as well as the No. 1 doubles team of Melissa Tepperman and Kasey Kulesa, but freshmen Kelli Canul and Natalia Salazar should bolster the lineup.
2. Chesterton: Meg Modesto returns for her senior season. Senior Abby Burke had the Trojans’ best record playing No. 2 singles, and senior Natalie Petro was part of their doubles team that made an individual regional final. Freshman Hannah Nabhan should contribute right away.
3. Michigan City: It could be a big season for the veteran Wolves, who bring back five starters, including four seniors. Megan Methner (No. 1 singles) and Dayna Pedzinski (No. 2), Kristen Palmer and junior Paige Cuma (No. 1 doubles team), and Claire Werner (No. 2 doubles) all return. Promising freshman Sydney Kohn adds to the mix.
4. Valparaiso: The Kennedy twins graduated, as did players such as Brooke Sever and Rachel Willing, but the Vikings should be strong yet again. Juniors Rachel Crookston and Madisen Kammerer have been mainstays since they were freshmen.
5. Crown Point: The Bulldogs had a special 2014, but lost four players, including foreign exchange student Qing Wen and Abby Kvachkoff. Still, Olivia Elston and Jordan Embry provide senior leadership, and junior Savannah Schuljak returns at singles.
5 Athletes to Watch
1. Chesterton’s Meg Modesto: After homeschooling as a junior and working intensely on her game, the senior is back with the Trojans. The Valparaiso recruit should be the area’s clear-cut top player.
2. Munster’s Nikki Heiniger: The senior enters her second season as the Mustangs’ No. 1, after a highly successful debut.
3. Lake Central’s Kristi Tinsley: The sophomore was one of the area’s best players as a freshman. She should make further strides for the Indians, who could be a surprise team in the Duneland Athletic Conference.
4. Whiting’s Brianna Baez: The junior should be more comfortable in her second season as the Oilers’ No. 1 player.
5. Munster’s Kaylynn Gruber: The sophomore should be significantly improved for the Mustangs, after she had an excellent freshman season at No. 3 singles.
5 Questions
1. Can LaPorte break through? The Slicers return their entire lineup that dropped a 4-1 decision to Michigan City in a sectional final, with three matches going three sets as the Wolves won their 14th straight title and 18th in 19 seasons since the consolidation. Senior Caroline Boger should play No. 1 singles for the fourth straight season, and junior Jillian Boger No. 2 for the third straight.
2. What’s Whiting’s encore? The Oilers went undefeated until losing to Munster in a regional semifinal, and seem poised for another outstanding season. Junior Brianna Baez returns at No. 1 singles, and senior Maira Huizar should shift to No. 2 from No. 3. Senior Serena Huss returns at No. 1 doubles, with classmate Alivia Jakubowski possibly moving up from No. 2 doubles. They graduated Kaylyn Anderson (No. 1 doubles) and Grace Huss (No. 2 singles), but freshman Marissa Baez should make an immediate impact. Freshman twins Faith and Hope Huss also should contribute.
3. What’s up in the Great Lakes Athletic Conference? After graduating five seniors, including exchange student Michaela Egriova, Morton puts its streak of seven straight titles on the line. Senior Karla Gallegos should lead the inexperienced Governors, with senior Patsy Mata also back.
4. What’s new at Kankakee Valley? Quite a bit. Kelli VanDuyne takes over as Kougars coach, after Katee Sanderson moved to California, where she is an instructor at Cliff Drysdale Tennis in Stockton. After a stellar freshman season, Molly Sanderson moved with their parents to Hilton Head, S.C., where father Reggie — the former St. Joseph’s coach — is an instructor at Van Der Meer Tennis Academy. VanDuyne — whose husband, Nathan, is KV’s basketball coach — will rely on seniors Paige Sanders and Rikki Young.
5. Can Marquette challenge in the Greater South Shore Conference? The Blazers have a chance. Senior Abigail Schmidt, an individual regional finalist, is one of the area’s top players. They graduated three key starters, but add freshman Kaitlyn Silvas — the daughter of coach Raymond Silvas is expected to play No. 2 singles — and sophomore Michigan City transfer Eileen Latchford.
Refresher course
Crown Point won Duneland Athletic Conference and regional titles for the first time since 2005 before losing 3-2 to Culver Academies in a semistate. Bulldogs foreign exchange student Qing Wen reached the individual state semifinals. In addition to Crown Point (20 straight), sectional winners included Whiting (three straight, five of six, six of eight), Hobart (five of six), Michigan City (14 straight, 18 of 19), Munster (38 straight) and Valparaiso (two straight, six of nine).
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff
