April 23, 2025
Girls Tennis

Girls tennis update: LT’s Chatt eyes state; RB has young group

By DAN SANTAROMITA

Lyons Township's Stefana Vasic hits a return playing first doubles against Hinsdale Central in Western Springs on Thursday, Sept. 19. (Bill Ackerman)

The tennis season is in full swing, and now at the midway part of the season the conference races and postseason picture start to come into focus.

Lyons Township

Top players:

Alex Chatt, sr. singles

Kristen Thoms, jr. singles/doubles

Andjelija Bozovic, fr. singles/doubles

Stefana Vasic, so. doubles

Outlook: Senior Alex Chatt is back for the Lyons Township girls tennis team and has one thing on her mind: winning a state title.

“It’s the only reason she’s playing,” LT coach Bill Wham said. “She’s focused for that objective.”

The Northwestern commit is a three-time state qualifier, including a second place finish as a sophomore and third place as a junior. While she enters the season as the highest finishing returner in the state, Wham knows Chatt still has tough competition in her way.

“Once you get to the round of 16 or quarterfinals, you’re going to be challenged,” the coach said.

Behind Chatt, who is undefeated this season, in the Lions’ lineup are younger but talented players. Junior Kristen Thoms is a fellow state returner who went 4-2 in the singles draw last year.

Thoms is switching behind No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles with freshman Andjelija Bozovic. Sophomore Stefana Vasic has paired with one of those two at No. 1 doubles.

Wham said those four should make state, but it won’t be easy with Hinsdale Central, which beat LT, 5-2, on Thursday, and Nazareth in the sectional yet again.

Riverside Brookfield

Top players:

Carlie Wilson, fr. singles

Victoria Bojovic, so. singles

Riki Matous, sr. doubles

Claire Wilson, sr. doubles

Outlook: The present looks good and the future looks even better for Riverside Brookfield girls tennis.

The Bulldogs are led by freshman Carlie Wilson and sophomore Victoria Bojovic at the top two singles spots and have a big freshman class that is pushing some of the varsity team in practice.

“We have a promising group of freshmen,” RB coach Bob Hegner said. “It looks good for the upcoming years. What I got on the varsity is coming back and the JV team is doing well.”

In addition to the youngsters, seniors Riki Matous and Claire Wilson are top doubles players. Wilson, the older sister of Carlie, has been injured for some of the season so far so Matous has rotated partners at No. 1 doubles. Junior Nina Dorenbos has been among the group to step into the spot. The Bulldogs entered Tuesday’s match at Illiana Christian with a 9-2-1 record.

Nazareth

Top players:

Lexi Petrovic, sr. singles

Juliana Petrovic, so. singles

Outlook: The Petrovic sisters head up Nazareth's top two singles spots. Senior Lexi Petrovic is a returning state qualifier, but did so at doubles with the now-graduated Alysa Straub.

This year Lexi is playing No. 1 singles and sophomore Juliana Petrovic is playing No. 2. Last year both sisters played singles during the regular season before Lexi paired with Straub to qualify in the ultra-competitive Lyons Township sectional.

Since Nazareth is in the same sectional, which includes Hinsdale Central and Lyons Township, a return trip is no given for Lexi.