As they begin their fourth varsity girls tennis seasons, Riverside Brookfield High School senior sisters Paige and Brooke Zavorski again will make big contributions in their own ways. The twins often practice with each other, but probably won’t play as a doubles team.
“I don’t know. (Paige) is just better at singles,” Brooke said.
The pair are among five returning starters for the Bulldogs, who have won back-to-back Upstate Eight Conference East Division championships and three straight conference titles counting their Metro Suburban Conference finale in 2023.
The Bulldogs’ new head coach is Elise Husemann, also the girls lacrosse varsity head coach.
“I just feel like it’s a pretty close community and we’re supportive of one another. It’s really easy to work with everyone,” Paige Zavorski said. “I feel like I’ve been working hard over the summer. My serving has gotten a lot better. I’ve made a lot of improvements from practicing.”
At last season’s UEC East Meet, Paige Zavorski won the No. 2 singles title and Brooke Zavorski captured the No. 2 doubles title with graduated Abby Weinert. Junior Amanda Krueger took second at No. 3 singles, and juniors Sophie Dickerson and Annika Beil were fourth at No. 3 doubles.
Other key players this season include seniors Ella Blomgren and Lucia Rodriguez and juniors Evelyn Cunningham, Cece Mooney and Mollie Price.
Last season, Paige and Brooke Zavorski moved up one flight from the 2024 UEC East Meet, when they were champions at No. 3 singles and doubles (with Weinert), respectively.
This season, Paige Zavorski and Krueger have been playing No. 1 and 2 singles and Brooke Zavorski and Dickerson have been at No. 1 doubles.
“I’m going to miss my doubles partner because we worked well together,” Brooke Zavorski said. “I’ve gotten better at my serving and controlling the ball. I think just everyone being supportive of each other (is our key).”
The Zavorskis agree they’ve come a long way since their freshman varsity seasons.
“I feel a lot more confident in my game. I’ve improved a lot since freshman year,” Paige said.
“Going into freshman year, I wasn’t really confident and kind of scared, but now I just feel more confident,” Brooke added.
LTHS girls tennis
Lyons Township senior Abby Sullivan truly works hard on her tennis game. While Sullivan is among four returning 2025 Class 2A state qualifiers for the Lions, she also has turned giving tennis lessons into her summer job since before her sophomore year.
She now has roughly 35 to 40 clients ranging from age 4 to high schoolers.
“I want to teach what I love. I’d rather do something that I enjoy, be outside and teach people how to get better at a great sport, in my opinion, so that just kind of called my name,” Sullivan said. “I reach out to people in the surrounding neighborhoods, I set my rates, determine how many lessons I’m going to book. It teaches me responsibility. It’s really fun.”
Sullivan (16-12 record in 2025) and sophomore Anna Turnispeed (7-14) are the Lions’ returning state qualifiers in singles. Doubles qualifiers were senior Sophia Dalgety with graduated Erin Hanzlik (15-10) and junior Elise Novey with graduated Rhia Nagale (18-10). Sophomore Chloe Owens also returns to the lineup. Varsity newcomers include nationally-ranked freshman Jessie Janiak.
Lyons Township’s Anna Turnipseed during a nonconference match against Lincoln-Way East Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Township’s Jessie Janiak returns a shot during a nonconference match against Lincoln-Way East Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Township’s Elise Novey during a nonconference match against Lincoln-Way East Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Township’s Sophia Dalgety during a nonconference match against Lincoln-Way East Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
At state, Novey and Nagale were 3-2 and Sullivan was 2-2, winning her first two matches, to both achieve top-24 finishes. Turnispeed and Dalgety and Hanzlik were 0-2. The Lions advanced both sectional singles and doubles entries for the first time since 2015.
“It was so much fun last year (at state),” Sullivan said. “That’s my goal this year, to do even better than I did last year. Probably two or three victories at state would be nice, just to where I got last year or a little bit more.”
Sullivan also is motivated because she plans to play club tennis in college. She said teaching tennis has helped improve her own game.
“I honestly think it’s been easier (to teach than play). I’ve done tennis for so long,” Sullivan said. “I like being able to teach (fundamentals) to younger people because it helps re-instill those tennis techniques and it make me better. And I learn different ways to teach.”
The 2025 Lions were second overall in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division after a 4-2 dual record. Dalgety and Hanzlik (No. 2 doubles) and Owens (No. 3 singles) were second.
