Lyons Township High School juniors Sophia Dalgety and Abby Sullivan and sophomore Elise Novey already knew the frustrating feeling last girls tennis season of coming one victory from qualifying for the Class 2A state meet. Not only did the three all qualify with their chances Friday at the 2A Lyons Township Sectional.
They’ll be joined by three more teammates — seniors Erin Hanzlik and Rhia Nagale and freshman Anna Turnispeed — as both singles players and doubles teams advanced with top-four finishes. They’re the Lions’ first state qualifiers since two doubles teams in 2021.
“It’s really great because our team hasn’t qualified all together in a while,” Hanzlik said. “I haven’t seen anyone go to state in my time at LT so to get to state my senior year – for all of us to make it – it’s a really great full-circle moment.”
The four entries finished third and fourth. In their third place matches Saturday, Sullivan (14-10) won 6-1, 6-1 over Turnispeed (7-12) and Nagale and Novey (15-8) were 6-1, 6-4 winners over Hanzlik and Dalgety (15-8).
With state on the line in the quarterfinals Friday, all four entries won in straight sets under the lights at Hinsdale Central.
“It’s really amazing, just to sum it all up, having the highlight of every year on varsity going to state for my fourth year,” said Nagale, a fourth-year varsity player. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
The state-power Red Devils (36 points) dominated the sectional, sweeping the first and second places after again winning the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet with the Lions taking second. Unlike past years, however, LTHS (26 points) didn’t have to contend at sectionals with other strong schools, such as Downers Grove North or Downers Grove South. Argo (10 points) was third. In 2024, Sullivan and Dalgety lost in the sectional singles quarterfinals and Novey lost with graduated Ginny Gibbs in the doubles quarterfinals, all to Hinsdale Central. The Lions’ No. 1 singles player since she was a freshman, Sullivan lost in the sectional round of 16 in 2023.
“I feel relieved [to qualify]. I really worked this whole season with that goal in mind so it felt really good to be able to accomplish that,” Sullivan said. “It was amazing. I’m just excited for what state has to bring me.”
Nagale and Novey played together this entire season and held their own at No. 1 doubles. Still, both said that reaching state was a bit of a surprise.
“It’s really great. I didn’t expect it,” Novey said. “We didn’t think we’d be able to make it but we were able to pull it out. Bria’s serve is really consistent and good, especially lately. She’s really been getting it in so we’re really excited for state.”
Hanzlik and Dalgety also were season-long partners after first becoming good friends playing singles on the junior varsity team in 2023.
“I think [the goal] was just leave it all out on the court,” Dalgety said. “We wanted to play to the best of our abilities, continue to have fun and play our hardest.”
Turnispeed was the most surprised of the all. She began the season on JV I but worked her way up and played No. 2 singles at the conference meet.
“I’m just really proud of myself from going to JV I to being able to make state, especially as a freshman,” said Turnispeed, who won her quarterfinal 6-1, 6-4. “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking I could make it this far. I was just happy to at last be in the sectional. The fact that I qualified for state, I’m super happy with that.”
At the 2A York Sectional, Riverside Brookfield senior Soleil Kaciuba lost a three-setter in the round of 16.
Junior Paige Zavorski and the doubles teams of seniors Alekse Alijosius and Abby Krueger and senior Abby Weinert and junior Brooke Zavorski lost in the round of 16 in straight sets.