ARLINGTON HTS. — Olney may have won the Little Illini Conference girls tennis team championship in 2024, but it was Casey-Westfield senior Elise Deromes who advanced the farthest at the IHSA Class 1A state tournament played at 16 different sites in suburban Chicago, but hosted by Arlington Hts.
After proving her No. 1 seed by winning the singles title at the Charleston Sectional, Deromes headed to state as the No. 7 seed. She then proceeded to win her first three singles matches — two in straight-set fashion. Deromes lost in the fourth round to eventual champion Chloe Goins of Hinsdale South, 6-1, 6-2, but bounced back in the consolation bracket to beat Alassea Mitchell of Dunlap.
Deromes was eliminated in her sixth match of the tournament, but still earned seven points for Casey-Westfield.
Olney and Robinson also sent players to state.
For Olney, the doubles tandem of McKenna Snider and Claire Uhl played more matches than Deromes did. And, after losing their second-round match, Snider and Uhl staved off elimination by winning their next four matches in the consolation bracket, eventually losing in the consi quarterfinals.
Robinson was represented by Annie List. After losing her first-round singles match, List won her next three matches in the consolation bracket before losing a three-set tiebreaker in the fourth round.
Olney finished the tournament with six team points. Robinson wound up with four points.
