CRETE-MONEE
Players to watch: Dana Drew, Sr., Tina Moscatel Jr.
Outlook: Drew and Moscatel will make a formidable one-two punch for the Warriors. Moscatel played No. 1 doubles last season with senior Iris Packer. This year's Warriors aren't as experienced as last year's, but they'll still be a tough match for any team.
Quote: "Dana Drew and Tina Moscatel are both excellent players." -- Coach Kelly Place
HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR
Players to watch: Adesuwa Osabuohien, So., Danielle Dixon, Jr., Faith Huckabee, So., Dana Shannon, Jr., Colleen Kenny, Jr.
Outlook: The Vikings are looking for their 27th consecutive sectional title. H-F finished 13th at the state tournament last year and return five girls with experience. Dixon, who left the team in the middle of last season, returns in 2010 and has state experience from her freshman year. Expectations in Flossmoor are even higher than usual this year.
Quote: "We graduated a few kids, but we have younger kids ready to step in and take their spots." -- Coach Michael Sacks
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN
Players to watch: Zhavia Gray, Jr., Alicia Smit, Sr., Hannah Lagerwey, Sr.
Outlook: Gray has been to the state tournament in each of her first two seasons, and there's no reason to think she won't be back there again in 2010. The Vikings have now taken second at the Homewood-Flossmoor sectional in two straight seasons. That task could be more difficult this year though. Smit and Lagerwey went to the state tournament the last two years, but both have decided to go on the Illiana Christian senior class trip to Washington D.C. rather than compete in sectionals.
Quote: "Zhavia is stronger and more experienced as a junior, so hopefully she can go a little further (in the state tournament)." -- Coach Rob Lagerwey
MARIAN CATHOLIC
Players to watch: Gaby Rosales, Fr., Giselle Beebe, Fr., Jordan Peirce, Sr., Tricia Gopalakrishnan, Sr.
Outlook: Last year's Spartans team had only two seniors while the rest were juniors. That means this year's team is rich with senior talent. Even better for coach Scott Bodnar is the emergence of two freshmen, Rosales and Beebe, to fill the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. With the seniors behind that duo, the Spartans are a very deep squad.
Quote: "We are much improved from last year." -- Bodnar
SETON ACADEMY
Player to watch: Melanie Horton, Sr.
Outlook: Lawrence Smith takes over as Seton's head coach, and he is optimistic about the future. Smith has built tennis programs from Chicago to Houston, and sees the potential for a powerhouse at Seton. Horton is the only girl with tennis experience prior to high school, and Smith expects big things from her this season.
Quote: "We can use tennis to teach life lessons. Never quit, never give up. There's another level of life, another level of achievement out there." -- Smith
THORNTON TWP.
Players to watch: Maya Murry, Sr., Kaitlyn Hayes, Sr.
Outlook: Debra Gill has passed the reins to Monica Dawson this year. Like her predecessor, Dawson will surely be focusing on teaching the fundamentals. Matches against powerhouse SouthWest Suburban Conference teams are best viewed as learning experiences.
T.F. NORTH
Players to watch: Angie Davis, Jr., Amanda Mitchell, Jr., Veronica Lozano, Jr., Kapri Burns, Jr.
Outlook: The Meteors were laden with seniors last season, which means a young team in 2010. In fact, head coach Marc McDaniel says that 90 percent of his team is juniors, including Davis and Mitchell, the No. 1 and No. 2 singles respectively.
Quote: "This is definitely a year to watch and observe and improve for next year." -- McDaniel
T.F. SOUTH
Players to watch: Andriana Johnson, So., Jessica Gomez, Fr., Andrea Orzel, Sr., Jessica Murry, Sr.
Outlook: Johnson and Gomez will run No. 1 and No. 2 respectively for the Rebels. But don't be fooled by their combined one year of varsity experience. In fact, second-year head coach Clinton Scott expects his team to contend for the conference title in its second year in the South Suburban Conference.
Quote: "We should definitely be in a position to make a run at the championship." -- Scott
-- Compiled by Times Correspondent Scott Ritter
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