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September 5, 2023

Gia Patel,a freshman, prepares to serve for the Red Raiders at No. 2 singles against St. Charles North.
Steve Peterson
Gia Patel,a freshman, prepares to serve for the Red Raiders at No. 2 singles against St. Charles North.

Sports • September 5, 2023

Patels keep helping tennis squad

By

HUNTLEY — The Patel family has enjoyed a role on the Huntley girls tennis team for a few years now. Eldest Kareena graduated in 2021, after a three-year career and the duo of freshman Gia and junior Ari contribute.

Tennis was not the first sport for the three daughters of Rita and Pleush Patel. Gymnastics got that nod before tennis took over.

“The Patel sisters are both doing great to start the season,” Red Raiders head Coach Barry Wells said. “Ari is successfully transitioning to doubles and Gia has been fantastic at No. 2 singles. Gia would be a No. 1 singles player for most teams in the area.”

Gia Patel is off to a good start in her varsity debut with an 9-1 record. Ari made the switch from singles, where she finished third in the conference tournament last year, to second doubles with Julie Klocknar. The second doubles combo has a 5-3 record.

“I like doubles, we keep each other up. Mostly I worked on my volleys and drop shots,” Ari said. “My goal is to win conference.” Overall, the Huntley girls tennis team has jumped off to a good start  with a tournament championship, a close non-conference win and they notched a 7-0 win over Crystal Lake Central Aug. 31 to begin league play.

“CLC is one of the better teams in the Fox Valley Conference so starting off with a 7-0 win over them is big and a great way to start the conference season. Hopefully we can get our fourth FVC title in a row,” Wells said.

The highlight at CLC was a No. 1 doubles win as Kate Burkey and Carlie Weishaar gained a win in three sets.

The Red Raiders won the Jacobs invite on Aug. 26 in a close battle with second-place Lake Zurich. Then they edged a tough St. Charles North team 4-3 in non-conference play Aug. 29.

“We have played St. Charles North for seven or eight years and it’s always a tough battle,”  Wells said. “They are really tough at the top spots.”

Huntley’s depth put the team in the win column, as third and fourth doubles, Ellie Pauwels and Shea Nagle at No. 3 and Ashley Phommasack and Vinuthna Depala both won. Gia Patel won her eighth match in nine contests at No. 2 singles and Trinity Nguyen took No. 3 singles.

“Burkey at first doubles has been a good leader, and she’s a three-time state qualifier,” Wells said of the senior, who is paired with  Weishaar.

HHS records include: No. 1 singles, Ella Doughty, 7-3; No. 2 singles, Gia Patel, 9-1; No. 1 doubles, Weishaar-Burkey, 6-4 and at No. 2 doubles,  Ariana Patel, Klocknar, 5-3.