Poise carries QND’s Quintero to two victories at state tennis tournament

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Lia Quintero needed composure and conviction as much as she did her powerful forehand to survive the first day of the Class 1A girls state tennis tournament.

The Quincy Notre Dame junior showcased it all.

Opening the singles draw against ninth-seeded Jocelyn Carmody of Troy Triad, Quintero scored an upset in a tiebreaker, winning 6-1, 4-6, 10-4 and sending her to a 2-1 day and a berth in the fourth round of the consolation bracket Friday morning.

Quintero won her second match in tiebreaker fashion as well, beating Maple Park Kaneland’s Evelyn Taylor 2-6, 6-3, 10-8.

“Honestly, that took a lot of mental strength,” Quintero said of winning back-to-back tiebreakers. “I knew I wasn’t playing the best that I could, and so it took a lot of self encouragement along with the encouragement of my teammates to be able to push through the rough patches.”

Beating Carmody, who Quintero lost to early in the season, set the right tone.

“Winning that match was a huge confidence booster going into my second match,” Quintero said.

In the third round, Quintero fell to Grayslake Central’s Karishma Bhalla, who was seeded seventh, in straight sets 6-0, 6-1. She awaits her opponent in the fourth round of the consolation, but could see Carmody again in the fifth round. Two victories will get Quintero into the consolation bracket quarterfinals.

“I know the competition will only get tougher,” Quintero said. “So I just need to keep my head on straight and enjoy the opportunity to play.”