Lyons Township junior Stephanie Eastman suffered a torn rotator cuff her freshman year.

That results in shoulder pain when she plays tennis, but that's only been the start of it this season.

Eastman suffered an ankle injury that hampered her summer playing. This fall, her back started hurting.

"I remember thinking, 'How could I possibly get injured this year?' There's nothing else that can get hurt," Eastman said. "I was like, 'Whatever. Let it happen.' My back hurts? Big deal. I've gone to the chiropractor a few times and that really helps."

The pain keeps coming, but it couldn't prevent Eastman and junior Madeline Barnabee from returning to the state meet in doubles.

The fifth-seeded pair endured a tough quarterfinal match and took fourth to be among three LT entries headed to State with top-four finishes at the LT Sectional Friday and Saturday.

Senior Tina Harazin took third at singles, and senior Hadley Burke and junior Alexis Reisch were third in doubles to also earn returns to State.

The sectional was completed outdoors Saturday after indoor action Friday at Score Tennis and Fitness Center and Hinsdale Racquet Club.

The Lions, who tied for sixth at State last year with four entrees, are hopeful for another top-10 finish. Harazin (17-2) and Burke and Reisch (16-8) were expected to be seeded in their respective draws released Tuesday.

"I think we could get a top-10 finish, but it does put a little extra pressure on three entries," LT assistant coach Bill Theisen said.

Harazin is making her fourth State trip but for the first time in singles. Burke and Reisch both competed at State in 2008 in singles.

Barnabee and Eastman (15-12) were a somewhat surprising 3-2 at State last year to finish 11-8. Eastman sat out matches along the way this season to ensure her health.

"I didn't want to see (Eastman) hurt and want it to come in the way of sectionals and State, but I knew eventually we would pull out of it," Barnabee said.

"I love being there (at State), the competition and everything. I feel like this year we expected more out of ourselves because we had been to State before. With a harder (sectional) draw this year, we just knew we really needed to step up."

That was the case Friday. Three-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central was in this year's sectional and finished first and second in singles and doubles, winning the team title with 36 points. LT (22 points) was second.

Barnabee and Eastman had to beat the No. 3 seed, Hinsdale South senior Tiffany Wakim and freshman Andrea Wakim (20-8), in the quarterfinals to get to State. LT beat the Hornets in three sets during the regular season.

This time, Barnabee and Eastman prevailed 6-4, 6-3 at Score after taking 4-1 leads in both sets. LT won the first set with a service break.

"Sometimes our second sets aren't the best. The entire match we were nervous, but we just wanted to win and go back to State," Eastman said. "We were just like, 'All right. This is going to be the big test you can get past.' But I think we stayed calm the entire time and didn't let it bother us if we lost games."

"That was our focus. (Barnabee and Eastman) were very driven and worked hard to do what they needed to do. That was a good team they beat," Theisen said.

The fourth-seeded Burke and Reisch beat Barnabee and Eastman 6-4, 6-2 for third. Third-seeded Harazin beat Nazareth freshman Alysa Straub 6-1, 6-0 for third.

Harazin was third at State in doubles each of the past two years with graduated Elise Woulfe after tying for ninth with then-senior Jamie Reisch in 2006.

On Saturday, Harazin lost 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals to undefeated Hinsdale Central senior and good friend Nida Hamilton, who defaulted in their No. 1 singles final at the conference meet Oct. 12 because of a high fever. Hamilton was second in singles at last year's state meet.

"I haven't played against (Hamilton) in a long time. I thought I really played well. Everyone said it was a good match to watch, which was nice to hear," Harazin said. "I'm excited to see how the draw, seeds turn out. I actually think it's going to be a little more difficult (playing singles). It seems like the singles draw is a lot harder."

Burke and Reisch, who each won two singles matches at State in 2008, know the feeling.

"Doubles is definitely different. It's more about strategy than singles, which is more running around and endurance," Burke said.

"You just get stressed out because you know you might have to play four matches a day (at State)," Reisch said. "In doubles, the points are faster and kind of more fun. It's more intense. You're just at the net and you can just peg people and all that."

•Fenwick (Oak Park) senior Julie Comfort of La Grange again qualified for State by taking fourth in doubles at the York Sectional with senior Mia Mastrangeli. They are 16-10.