Back at state for the third straight year, Moline seniors Samantha Tonn and Jenna Jackson find themselves in a good position to finish their tennis careers with a thrill.

The doubles pair was seeded in 2007, making it to the third round.

Then, as an unseeded team last year as juniors, Tonn and Jackson lost in the second round against a 9-16 seeded pair from Effingham (St. Anthony).

So, a return to the top 32 at this weekend's girls state tournament, beginning Thursday at multiple locations on the north side of Chicago, is encouraging for the Maroons.

Tonn and Jackson, who are seeded in the 17 to 32 range, face Downers Grove South's Jen Alter and Dana Thornquist in the first round.

"This is definitely an accomplishment of ours," Jackson said. "We're happy about it. Any time you're seeded at state, it's awesome, because it just depends on luck of the draw."

Still, Tonn understands the matches don't change based on prior accolades.

"But a non-seeded team, it doesn't mean they're bad. We weren't seeded last year and we did well," Tonn said. "We could end up playing an amazing team that just happened to have bad luck at their sectional. So we're still going to have to try no matter who we play."

Moline sophomore Maggie Helms, who qualified for state by taking third at the sectional, likely will be forced to miss her first-round match with Annie Sullivan because of the flu.

Helms made the state tournament as a freshman but might have to wait until her junior season for an official return trip to Mount Prospect.

"Two for two is not too bad," Moline coach Jason Jones said. "She's a very talented player that is working through some of the issues that a younger player would have. She's still got a bright future ahead of her."

Alleman sends a doubles team in senior Andi Mills and junior Allie DeRoo.

They are unseeded but have a relatively friendly draw, opening against non-seeded Kathryn Grimmer and Torrie Graham from Elmhurst (York).

"That's our goal, is winning the first one," Mills said. "That's all we ever talk about together, is state. We're really, really excited to go. We don't want to just lose and go home."

DeRoo talked about the challenge of matching up with some of the best players in Illinois.

"People that are not as good as you, you don't play up to your expectation," DeRoo said. "I get so much better when I play people better than me."

Sherrard senior Jessica Garlach will take on Barrington freshman Zoe Kasuriak in her first match.

"It's a great opportunity," Garlach said. "I'm so glad to even be there, finally as a senior, going to compete against girls at that level."