MAPLE PARK – There weren’t a lot of firsts for Evie Taylor to claim, but the Kaneland girls tennis player still found a way to leave her mark in the record books.

When she qualified for the state tournament last month, it was her fourth straight year qualifying for the season finale. Although other Kaneland tennis players had done that, she became the first to do so after playing four different regular-season positions: No. 2 doubles as a freshman, then No. 2 singles, then No. 1 doubles this year and, finally, No. 1 singles this year.

“I think it’s really cool because no one’s done that before,” Taylor said. “It’s nice to have a first because I wasn’t the first to qualify four times, I wasn’t an all-state player a bunch of times, but it was nice to have a first. Still really cool. Still a great accomplishment. I think it just shows my versatility.”

Taylor won a pair of matches in the state tournament, finished the year 22-6, and was named the 2021 Daily Chronicle Girls Tennis Player of the Year.

Kaneland coach Beth Miller said the fact she played so many different positions shows her level of commitment to the team.

“We call her coach Eves because she’s completely dedicated to watching everyone else and helping them out all the time,” Miller said of Taylor, the second straight Kaneland player of the year to have that style of nickname. “She is dedicated and definitely a team player.”

Mille said Taylor is a singles player at heart. But for the first three years of her career, she was behind a loaded team that included two-time Daily Chronicle Player of the Year Piper Schrepferman.

Taylor said she loved becoming the team’s No. 1 this year.

“It was nice. I love Piper, but it was nice to step out of the shadow a little more,” Taylor said. I kind of got a glimpse last year, but it was nice to fully come out this year into the first singles spot. I like singles, so it was fun for me.”

There were also aspects of her doubles game that translated to singles play. Both she and Miller said her net play improved.

And while it may not seem useful as a singles player, Taylor said the communication skills she learned at doubles translated well to when she was on the court by herself.

“I talk to myself. A lot,” Taylor said. “I was kind of talking to myself about where I should be where in doubles I just talked to my partner.”

Still, Miller said it was obviously Taylor enjoyed being not just at singles but in the top spot.

“Singles is definitely her passion,” Miller said. “Last year, it was under a different coach. Tim Larsen talked her into playing doubles and saying it was a better fit for the time. And it worked out well because it improved her net game.”

Taylor said she was pleased on the whole with the year, accomplishing what she set out to do.

Now, she said, she’s hoping to play at the college level and is hoping to catch on with an NCAA Division II or III school.

“I know I can play on those teams,” Taylor said, “and I don’t want to stop playing tennis.”