Glenbard West girls tennis coach Rob White stressed at the beginning of the fall that while his squad was young, they were extremely talented and ultra-competitive.

His words turned out to be prophetic on Monday when the Hilltoppers captured the title at the Downers Grove Sectional. The squad compiled a team score of 26, which put them three points ahead of the host Mustangs.

More importantly, Glenbard West qualified one individual and both its doubles teams for the state meet which begins today.

“We haven’t done that (win the sectional) in recent history,” White said. “I don’t know if it has been 15 years or more. It is quite an accomplishment. At the beginning of the year, the goal is to qualify kids for state. To win the sectional is icing on the cake and is something you don’t expect to do. You are just happy to get kids to state. But it is a testament to the performance of the kids on the court.”

Leading the way was the doubles team of sophomore Samantha Reedy and freshman Molly Hennessy, who finished first after defeating the Hilltoppers’ other entry, senior Olivia Schwartz and sophomore Madeline Morris, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in the championship match.

Reedy and Hennessy had kicked off the event with a 6-0, 6-0 win in the second round and a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the third round before pulling out a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Chelsea Lavin and Laura Pannozo of Downers Grove South in the semifinals.

“We got our doubles teams together late in the season,” the coach said. “For a freshman and a sophomore to win the sectional is very impressive. To win a three-set, come-from-behind match in both the semis and the final, that says a lot about them as competitors.

“Madeline and Olivia had actually beaten them all the time until the last week. All four of them looked forward to playing (each other) but it was not real easy to watch as the coach. It was certainly awkward but they all played well.”

Schwartz will be making her third appearance at the state meet as a result of the second-place showing from her and Morris. That grouping posted easy wins in the first two rounds before knocking off Jen Alter and Dana Thornquist 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 in the semifinals.

“For Olivia,” White said,  “it has been a tough thing being a senior because we’ve got so many younger ones behind her pushing. But not too many kids can say they have been to state three times.”

In the singles bracket, sophomore Meredith Maltby placed second after losing 6-4, 6-1 to four-time state qualifier Jenny Hois of Downers Grove South in the finals.

Maltby had picked up a win by default in the second round before dropping only two games over her two two matches, including a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Jessica Urban of Lemont in the semis.

“Meredith lost to Jenny,” the coach said, “but she played very well. She has actually all year. Her five losses all year are to kids that will be seeded in the top-8 at state and she has basically lost to all seniors.

“As a sophomore to get to state, that is a nice accoplishment.”

Sophomore Hannah Foth also competed in the singles bracket at the sectional but lost to Hois in the first round.

The sectional title capped off what has been a great season for the Hilltoppers, who lost to only Lyons Township, York and Hinsdale Central in dual meets while knocking off the likes of Naperville North, Naperville Central, Glenbard South and Hinsdale South.

Now five girls get to extend their season another week, and with their competitive spirit, who knows what type of accomplishements they might post at state.

“It will be so cool,” White added. “Some of them are walking on water right now and they should be. Athletically, they are very gifted and tennis-wise, they are really good. And I know they will do the best they can do.”