Published: May 22, 2008 10:04 am         

Northridge tennis team going to semistate

After an absence of nine years, the Northridge High School girls tennis team is going back to semistate.

The Raiders got off to another quick start, just like they did Saturday against Elkhart Memorial in the sectional championship, to defeat the Jimtown Jimmies 4-1 Wednesday in the regional championship at NHS in Middlebury.

“It’s been awhile, but it’s nice to be going back to semistate,” Northridge coach Jim Burkert said. “Our strong start was a key for us.”

Northridge won back-to-back regional crowns in 1998 and 1999.

One thing remaining the same for the Raiders is that there were Herbster girls on the 1998 and 1999 regional teams and there is one on this year’s squad.

Senior Emily Herbster was a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Jimtown junior Brittany Stebbins at No. 2 singles.

“Emily is the fourth Herbster girls to play tennis at Northridge and the fourth to be on a regional championship team,” Burkert said. “Her sister Carrie played on the ’98 squad while Stephanie and Jessica were on the ’99 team.”

Northridge (17-1) advances to the LaPorte semistate Saturday at 11 a.m. (local time), meeting No. 2-ranked Munster, a 5-0 regional winner over Highland.

“Northridge is an awesome team and their girls are good sports,” Jimtown coach Tim Courliss said. “We have nothing to be ashamed off. About the only thing negative I can say is that we did not win. We had a great season. They girls pushed each other hard.”

Jimtown finishes 14-2.

The Jimmies’ point came at No. 1 singles where senior Stephanie York defeated Raider sophomore Kristin Zakiewicz 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in a match lasting 2:25.

“Stephanie got her second wind in the third set,” Burkert said. “She had to be going through a lot of emotions since her team had lost, but she was trying to go on as an individual. She won the match by stepping it up in the last three games. Her senior leadership showed.”

York and Elkhart Memorial junior Katie Grubb will meet tonight at 5 o’clock for the regional championship. Grubb was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Krista Hamilton of Tippecanoe Valley Wednesday.

“Stephanie seemed to be running out of gas in the third set without realizing it,” Courliss said. “I talked to her about how her energy was dropping off on points and after that she started to pick it back up. That seemed to get her over the hump.”

Northridge took a 1-0 lead when sophomore Ella Wynn was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over junior Brianna Houghton at No. 3 singles.

The Raiders then clinched the title by sweeping the doubles.

Senior Alyssa Hottinger and junior Mackenzie Pletcher downed senior Jessica George and sophomore Sarah DeShone at No. 1 while senior Abbey Powers and junior Rita Jakubowicz topped senior Jordan Nine and junior Ashley Springsteen 6-0, 7-6 at No. 2.

“Our No. 2 doubles set the tone by opening an early 5-0 lead,” Burkert said. “Getting that first set under your belt helps, but you can’t relax. Our girls fought off two set points before closing out the match.”