The Chesterton girls tennis team dominated singles play and outlasted Valparaiso 3-2 to win the IHSAA Portage Sectional Championship on Saturday.

The 11th-ranked Trojans will face off against No. 8 South Bend St. Joseph’s today in LaPorte in the Regional Semifinals. CHS beat St. Joe 3-2 earlier this year.

Bobbi Modesto staked the Trojans to an early 1-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Kelly Kennedy at No. 1 singles. Margaret Shinn then battled back from a 3-2 deficit in the second set for a 6-1, 6-4 win over Rachel Willing at No. 3 singles.

Valparaiso won at No. 1 doubles 6-1, 6-3 and No. 2 doubles 6-3, 6-2 to tie the score at 2-2 with just No. 2 singles on the court.

After winning the first set 6-1, Chesterton freshman Meg Modesto came back from down 3-0 to win six of the matches last seven games to beat Caitlin Kennedy 6-4 and clinch the title.

Singles -- 1. Bobbi Modesto © def. Kelly Kennedy 6-1, 6-1; 2. Meg Modesto © def. Caitlin Kennedy 6-1, 6-4; 3. Margaret Shinn © def. Rachel Willing 6-1, 6-4.

Doubles -- 1. Sonja Schaefer/Kate Spencer (V) def. JJ Lee/Rachel McCrum 6-1, 6-3; 2. Ava Meyer/Brooke Sever (V) def. Sunny Lee/Amanda Susnak 6-3, 6-2.

Record: Chesterton 17-2.

Posted 5/21/2012