Here are 10 Peoria-area high school girls tennis players to know for the 2024 season

Posted by author August 15, 2024 Tennis

Spread the love

Dunlap has a massive roster of talented players from which to choose, while Richwoods has two stars making their final run as the 2024 season opens up.

Dunlap will host the Lady Eagles Invitational on Sept. 21, a chance to see how some top players and teams measure up in a field that includes Dunlap, Metamora, Richwoods, Dixon, Maroa-Forsythe, Hinsdale-South, Herrin and Bloomington Central Catholic.

IHSA state finals: Dunlap girls tennis makes history to lead Peoria-area players in 2023

Here’s a look at top players in the Peoria area to watch for the fall 2024:

The junior helped drive the Eagles to a trophy with a third-place team finish at the IHSA Class 1A state tournament. It was the highest finish at state in school history. She earned first-team all-state honors after teaming with Sophie Muir for a 32-7 doubles record and 5-1 effort at state that captured third place.

The junior earned third-team all-state honors with a five-match run at state in which she reached the fourth round of consolation. She went 30-15 last season as Dunlap’s No. 2 singles player.

The senior piled up a 44-10 record combined, as the Knights No. 2 singles player and later, in 11 doubles matches paired with Julia Wojtowicz as a prelude to state. She earned her 100th varsity career win late in the season. Her IHSA Class 2A state run with partner Wojtowicz included a 3-2 match record as they reached the consolation fourth round.

The senior went 30-11 in singles play last season and could pass 100 career varsity wins at some point this season. She will play singles again, but it’s possible she could team with Reynolds for a doubles run in sectionals and state. A terrific player, she has been accepted by West Point and applied to Harvard and Yale.

The junior went 19-5 in the Redbirds No. 1 and No. 2 singles slots last season and earned Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors.

Chloe Kendall, Morton

The sophomore and younger sister of former Potters tennis power Carter Kendall was a first-team All Mid-Illini Conference pick last season. She played No. 1 singles, which means the then-freshman was on the court against area stars like Julia Wojtowicz, Theresa Bartelme, Shikha Agarwal, Lexi Burton and Hailey Gerlach, who had a combined record of 143-45. Kendall finished fourth in the Morton Sectional and won a consolation match in the IHSA Class 1A state draw.

Lexi Burton, Metamora

The junior built an 18-8 at the No. 1 singles slot for the Redbirds earned All Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors. She went on to a runner-up finish at the Morton Sectional, and later dropped both her matches at state.

Isabella Gusso, Dunlap

The sophomore put together a 28-12 record partnering mostly with Emily Klemens in doubles last season, and they finished second in the Galesburg Sectional. They won twice at the IHSA Class 1A state tournament before falling in the third round of consolation to Metamora duo Brianna Bessert and Emma Hernandez.

Last year’s all-area: Meet the Journal Star girls tennis player of the year and all-area team for 2023

Annabelle Hiel, Washington

The senior put together a 20-12 record last season as a No. 2 singles player for the Panthers, while also teaming with Hailey Gerlach on the No. 1 doubles tandem. She earned All Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors.

Anna Yu, Dunlap

An exciting incoming freshman who will play No. 1 or No. 2 singles for the Eagles. She projects among the elite players in the area, and just beat Danville’s Anna Houpt — a top 12 finisher at state — over the summer.

Others to watch

Melaina Humbles, jr, Dunlap; Carolina Gusso, sr, Dunlap; Anica Roozenboom, sr, Washington.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.