Non league girls' tennis matchups on Monday, March 15, at Thomas Jefferson High School produced a surprising level of excitement in a Kentridge 3-2 decision against the host Raiders after nearly three hours of play.

In the beginning, the main focus was to identify strengths and weaknesses while acquiring match play experience in a situation without the pressure of league standings on the line.

Despite this, or due to it, the squads found themselves entrenched in a 2-2 team match deadlock heading into the final match.

Jefferson's No. 2 singles player Breanne Ziccarelli won the battle of base liners in the first set at 6-4, but freshman Katie Ly turned the tables with a 6-4 second set win of her own, pushing the pair into a decisive third set.

Ziccarelli served for the set and match at 5-4 but was unable to hold serve. Exchanges of service breaks brought on a 6-6 score and a deciding tie-breaker.

Again, the duo battled to a 6-6 tie before Ly fought to gain two straight points and a three-set verdict.

After the loss, Ziccarelli thought about what she had learned.

"I learned that I can't make silly mistakes and I can't get down on myself," she said.

In a time far removed from the late ending, the Charger tandem of Beth VandenHeuvel and Karisa Lau two-timed Raider seniors Cherina Warnes and Hayley Albrecht, 6-2, 6-4, in No. 2 doubles against the backdrop of sunshine.

Initiating the first of four consecutive three-set encounters, Jefferson senior Averi Kitsch used ground strokes with an occasional attack of the net to gain a 6-2 first set win against Vicky Tran in the featured No. 1 singles draw. Losing her consistency while trying to add improvements to her play, Kitsch struggled as Tran cruised to a 6-0 second set win.

Kitsch returned to basics, as foot positioning, to grab an early service break for a 3-1 third set lead. Tran rallied within 4-3 before Kitsch gutted it out for a service break and then held serve for the match at 6-3.

"I needed to play smarter and not serve or hit as hard," she said. "It was hitting more accurately. I've definitely got a goal of getting to state in singles. It was doubles I previously preferred, but I'm working hard, thinking about my singles game more."

Raider seniors Vanessa Sariego and Hayley Albrecht settled down to stroke past Sunitah Venkatash and Alissa Lee, 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, as Jefferson led in matches 2-1.

No. 1 doubles went to Jazmin Ahyat and Kyana Esben, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, against TJ seniors Mackenzie Qualls and Caroline Min to send onlookers to the final match.

"It was a good chance to try some things and watch how players deal with situations," observed Raider head coach Andrew Buchan, who is in his 21st year at TJ. "After last year's 8-8 we need to learn how to win. What we had out here today is our varsity. There might be some variations in our second and third doubles lineups, but this year we're going to set our lineup and not worrry so much about what the other teams set up."

Freshman Michelle Lee will also be part of the mix.

According to Buchan, defending state champion Decatur is the favorite in the SPSL Central with the top two singles players in the league in Meghan Cassens and Sara Lin heading a cast that returns all its components. Cassens won the Class 4A state title singles championship last year and Lin placed at state.

"We have experience and depth and we're going to be in the mix," declared Buchan.