OAK PARK — When Fenwick coach Gerard Sullivan paired up seniors Ana Sprajcer and Rylee Brennan at the beginning of the season, he thought he had the makings of a pretty good No. 2 doubles team.
As the season progressed into to postseason, it’s apparent that he had much more.
The duo emerged as the Friars’ top tandem at the Oak Park-River Forest Sectional on Friday and Saturday, as Sprajcer and Brennan (19-9) took fourth and qualified for this week’s state tournament.
“Rylee and Ana were the third- and fourth-best doubles players on our team, so this just tells you how chemistry is huge,” Sullivan said. “That’s the X-factor. They had a couple big wins, some comeback wins and some creative play that worked. Next thing you know they have this attitude that they can win.”
Looking back to the preseason, the difference is almost like night and day. What carried them to this point, the coach said, was their determination.
“This is a whole different team than what we saw in the beginning of the season,” Sullivan said. “But the one thing that hasn’t changed is that they put their game faces on and are all business. They can be ice cold when they need to.”
Sprajcer, who went to state last year with doubles partner Dana Bulk, knew it was the perfect match from the very start. She said they began winning right away and just built on that success.
Rylee, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable at first. She played third doubles last season and being paired with a partner who competed at state last year caused some butterflies.
“When [Sullivan] put us together, I was nervous because I came from playing on a lower doubles team to playing with someone who went to state,” Brennan said. “I definitely felt pressure, but Ana was so encouraging and positive from the very beginning. We also had this bond from the very beginning and continued to win matches.”
They agree that Brennan is the stronger of the two at the net, while Sprajcer is more comfortable in the back. In every other facet, both feel sure of their skills.
“I’m more aggressive up there and feel way more confident” Brennan said. “I can always count on Ana being consistent and patient at the baseline waiting for the other team to make a mistake or for me to get the opportunity to take one at the net.”
“She’s a beast at the net,” Sprajcer said. “We also have really strong serves so serving, running up to the net and finishing is a good strategy for us.”
The duo carried the top seed into the sectional and after winning two matches by identical, 6-0, 6-1 scores, the Friars lost twice to teams from OPRF. Based on what Brennan saw at state last year, she believes the pair can have some success at state.
“I think we both want to make it to Day 2, but while we’re out there we want to have fun,” Brennan said. “This next weekend is our final weekend having the shield on our tennis outfits so we want to go out there, have fun and do our best all at the same time.”
