High school tennis: Every girls player from Peoria area headed to 2026 IHSA state finals

The Illinois High School Association will host the 2026 girls tennis state finals next weekend at Buffalo Grove. Sectionals were held on Saturday, October 17, determining the field for this year's competition. Morton claimed a Class 1A sectional championship, while Dunlap secured their first-ever Class 2A title and a fifth consecutive sectional crown.

Three days of state play will take place from Thursday, October 22 to Saturday, October 24 in Buffalo Grove. The top four finishers in both singles and doubles at sectional play advanced to the state finals. Here is a comprehensive list of Peoria-area qualifiers headed to the IHSA girls tennis state finals in 2026. Every single athlete from the Journal Star area is advancing to the state finals next weekend in Buffalo Grove.

Morton's Lauryn Elsesser (jr.) and Kaylee Rassi (jr.) made it to doubles, as did Morton's Chloe Kendall (sr.) and Metamora's Olivia Weldon (sr.) and Alison Liesen (sr.) as well. LaSalle-Peru's April Pescetto (sr.) and Ella Lannen (jr.) also qualified for doubles. For Class 2A, Dunlap's Anna Yu (jr.) and Isabella Gusso (sr.) are singles qualifiers, while Dunlap's Katherine Brewer (soph.) and Sia Verma (soph.) took the doubles spot.

These talented young women are sectional champions, with Anna, Isa, Katherine, and Sia celebrating their fifth consecutive sectional title. Congratulations to all these young athletes for making it to the 2026 IHSA girls tennis state finals!