On Friday, Morris sophomores Monica Davy and Leah Lines returned to the same site — Ottawa's tennis courts — where they finished fifth at a 2011 sectional.

This time, Davy and Lines were expected to finish in the top four and advance to the state final. They were the No. 1 seed in the doubles bracket, after all. Even so, when they beat teams from La Salle-Peru and Rochelle and ensured a state berth on Friday, it was a special moment for the partners and cousins.

"Last year, I remember the feeling of walking off the court after we had lost and didn't get to go. Hopefully I'll never have to go through that feeling again," Davy said after the sectional ended Monday evening. "This was the exact opposite. I was extremely proud of my partner. It was a goal I've had for a while — we've both had it for a while — and it was great to finally reach it."