It's a situation Bob Keefe has encountered several times before, but it doesn't make it any easier.
Keefe, the longtime Belleville West girls tennis coach, watched as rain delayed the start of Thursday's first-round action at the state tournament in suburban Chicago. Matches eventually started around 1:30 p.m., but more rain forced the postponement of some matches and the IHSA cancelled the back draw for the three-day event.
"Friday could be a quick day for the teams in our area," Keefe said. "Our No. 1 doubles team and Edwardsville's No. 1 doubles team are the only ones that got seeded, so if we want to get past the third round, we'll have to pull an upset."
West's top doubles team of Kelcie Comley and Blair Hollenbeck advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Molly Traverso and Marissa Garoufalis of Orland Park Sandburg. The other winner for the Maroons was freshman singles player Kayleigh Thurwalker, who posted a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Lucia Stumbras of Barrington.
West's No. 2 doubles team, Anna Bullard and Anna Mernick, was tied 2-2 in the first game against Catherine Joss and Molly Wallach of Oak Park Fenwick when the match was stopped by rain. It will resume on Friday.
Laura Knysak, West's No. 2 singles player, was eliminated with a first-round loss.
"It was cold, wet and windy, which is not a good combination for outdoor play," Keefe said.
Edwardsville, which like West won a sectional title last week, will have at least one player in the winner's bracket, as the Tigers' No. 1 singles player, Morgan McGinnis, defeated Althoff's Shannon Wuller 6-2, 6-2. Paige Bequette, who plays No. 2 singles, lost her first-round match.
Both Edwardsville doubles teams, Casey Bonham and Paige Sturley, and Jessica Burns and Tess Severin, will play Friday morning after their matches were postponed by rain.
The only other Metro East team with a player in the winner's bracket is Belleville East, as Savannah Martin won her first-round singles match. The Lancers' No. 1 doubles team of Alana Hofmann and Rebecca McIsaac, lost their first match as did the No. 2 doubles team of Lexi Baysinger and Alison Harres.
Alton Marquette singles player Janelle Wilson and doubles players Caroline Claywell and Anna Morrisey were eliminated with first-round losses. Both Triad entries, Rachel Allard in singles and Jenny Lange and Alexis McCarthy in doubles, also lost their opening matches.
