Markovitz, Georgevich honored for sportsmanship

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Niles North's Erica Markovitz closed out her high school career Saturday with 47 all-time wins, second most in team history. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 21, 2011 9:12AM

Not a bad closing act.

Niles North senior Erica Markovitz ended her career in style with her first sectional victory and a valiant second-round effort after earning the Sarah Pate Sportsmanship Award, a third straight team-MVP achievement and first-time all-CSL honors.

In last weekend’s Maine East Sectional, Markovitz snuffed her Taft opponent 6-0, 6-1 for her 47th career win, second in Niles North girls tennis history. She then took eight games from state-qualifying Vicki Olejniczak of Glenbrook North in a hard-fought, 3-6, 5-7 defeat. Despite facing every team’s best singles player, Markovitz finished her final season with a 12-9 record.

“I am especially happy for Erica,” said head coach John Amaro, whose eight seniors led his Vikings to an impressive 9-6 overall record this fall. “That was a great match to end her career and a great testament to her that she can play her best tennis at a very high level.”

Niles North tied head coach George Bravos’s young Niles West squad for fifth place in the 10-team sectional, behind Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South, Maine South and Maine East. Predictably, the loaded Spartans and Titans ate up the eight qualifying spots, each advancing two singles players and two doubles teams to this weekend’s 40th IHSA State Meet hosted by Prospect.

The Vikings’ top doubles team of seniors Maddy Neuhaus/Jolene Strauss advanced to the second round via a bye. Maine South loaded up by shifting No. 1 singles player Lauren Krone to doubles with Meghan Salgia and won 6-0, 6-1. Neuhaus/Strauss were tight partners for four years.

Amaro moved up Anna Marzalado to pair with senior classmate Karen Silverman. They routed a Maine East duo 6-1, 6-2. Junior Rupal Desai also went 1-1 with a win over Lane and loss to Resurrection. Desai unofficially led all area girls in dives, scrapes, bruises and fighting for every point.

“We wanted to get sixth place or better and get each team to the next round, so we were pleased to be able to do both,” said Amaro.

The Vikings placed fourth in both the CSL North meet and overall standings ahead of Maine East. Aiding the cause were junior Diane Maglague in singles and, in doubles, junior April Hernandez and seniors Sonali Patel, Ashley Thomas and Hannyl Choi.

Niles West

Niles West got the better of North in head-to-head action when junior Alexa Bits and sophomore Kristine Park eliminated Marzalado/Silverman in the second round 6-0, 6-0.

Bits and Park were both singles players a year ago but meshed as a doubles pair the second half of this season. They took third place with strong wins over Maine South and Evanston in the CSL South meet to help the Wolves to a fourth-place tie with Evanston.

In combined singles and doubles action, Park posted a 12-9 record. The younger sister of junior boys standout David, Park was easily the team’s most improved player and earned all-CSL honors. Bits, an all-conference selection last year, went a combined 11-10 this season.

“They went through a transitional period and struggled, but then excelled toward the end of the season. Kristine was more aggressive and confident. She comes from a tennis family that shows commitment to working on their game,” said Bravos. “Our top two doubles teams were very close. They pushed each other and made each other better.”

The pushing was done by seniors and three-year varsity veterans Vicki Georgevich and Lexi Leftakes. After a bye, they had the misfortunate of drawing top-seeded Glenbrook North juniors Katrine Zhadovich/Anna Zelechonok and lost in straight sets. Georgevich also was a recipient of the Sarah Pate Sportsmanship Award.

Bravos moved senior co-captain and third-year veteran Ricki Esses to singles for a better shot at advancement, but she ran into a red-hot Amila Omerovic of Maine East and could win only two games. Freshman Analise Vujica notched a decisive 6-4, 6-0 win over her Resurrection opponent before drawing Maine East’s budding star, freshman Jessica Ilc, who prevailed 6-1, 6-2.

Bravos will lose only three seniors. Vujica and fellow freshman Katie Chelboun gained valuable experience in the top singles roles. Also contributing this season were sophomores Andra Sabou and Emma Lazar and juniors Mary Mirza and Yu-Jean Park.