Nov 03, 2009
OAK LAWN TENNIS DUO CAPS GREAT SEASON, QUALIFIES FOR STATE FINALS

The girls tennis campaign started in the scorching sun of August practices in Oak Lawn and finally finished in the pouring rains of October indoors at Schaumburg. All season long, the heart and soul of the Spartan program was the determined play of a pair of juniors Jill Metcalf and Kayla Annerino. The ambitious duo set a high-reaching goal for itself this year, and through hard work on the practice courts and faith in each other, they were able to reach their ultimate goal: the IHSA State Finals tournament.
While their season started on an inauspicious note with tough losses at the Lockport Quad and a rolled ankle for Metcalf, the doubles team charged through the regular season with a 20-8 record and an undefeated record in the South Suburban Conference Red Division regular season.
The competition quickly became aware of Metcalf and Annerino, said head coach Dan Doyle. And they knew they were a force to be reckoned with. The pressure is different when you play at conference or at sectionals as one of the top seeds instead of sneaking in under the radar as an underdog that has nothing to lose. They really handled the pressure from the conference tournament to sectionals very well.
Both Metcalf and Annerino knew what was at stake when they lined up against an experienced Stagg team that had slipped under the radar and was playing like a true spoiler last Saturday at sectionals: the winner was going to the state tournament. The Stagg duo had just upset the number-one doubles team from Shepard, and they were looking to take down another number-one team. Metcalf and Annerino really needed to keep their composure and their focus for that match, said Doyle. And while they had a little lapse in the first set, before you could blink, the second set was in the bag and they were going to state. In the decisive match, Metcalf and Annerino won the first set in a nervous 6-4 fashion, but the second set was never in doubt as the juniors cruised 6-1.
While Metcalf and Annerino were excited about the reward of hard work paying off with a visit to the state tournament, the ambitious pair has set another high-reaching goal for itself: to return to the state finals next year.
We were just really excited to qualify for the state finals, Annerino said. It was cool to be there. But our goal for next year is to get to state and go farther. We want to win at least one up there.