By Samantha Murdock
Contributing Writer
MUNCIE â??? Fourth-ranked Delta continued its
perfect season May 23-24 by sweeping Muncie Central and slipping past Bellmont to
win its third straight girls tennis regional title.
perfect season May 23-24 by sweeping Muncie Central and slipping past Bellmont to
win its third straight girls tennis regional title.
In a 5-0 semifinal
win Tuesday, the Eagles (20-0) never allowed more than three points in any game
against Muncie Central (10-7), which had won its own sectional by downing Winchester and Union
City. Bellmont (15-7), meanwhile, downed Anderson (13-9) by a 4-1
count to advance to the regional championship.
win Tuesday, the Eagles (20-0) never allowed more than three points in any game
against Muncie Central (10-7), which had won its own sectional by downing Winchester and Union
City. Bellmont (15-7), meanwhile, downed Anderson (13-9) by a 4-1
count to advance to the regional championship.
In that
second semifinal matchup, the Braves and Indians duked it out for over two
hours at No. 2 singles in the most equally matched event of Day 1. Ultimately, Bellmontâ??s
Sara Werling defeated Kerri Lennartz 7-6, 5-7, 7-5, in a match that started
first and ended last.
second semifinal matchup, the Braves and Indians duked it out for over two
hours at No. 2 singles in the most equally matched event of Day 1. Ultimately, Bellmontâ??s
Sara Werling defeated Kerri Lennartz 7-6, 5-7, 7-5, in a match that started
first and ended last.
Bellmont
already had the victory in hand prior to Werlingâ??s win because of its victories
at No. 3 singles, No. 1 doubles and No. 2 doubles.
already had the victory in hand prior to Werlingâ??s win because of its victories
at No. 3 singles, No. 1 doubles and No. 2 doubles.
â??We played
very well,â? Bellmont coach Tom Smith said Wednesday. â??Yesterday was the best we
have played to get to the championship today.â?
very well,â? Bellmont coach Tom Smith said Wednesday. â??Yesterday was the best we
have played to get to the championship today.â?
Day 2,
however, was a different story for the Braves.
however, was a different story for the Braves.
Two quick
victories from Haley Hall at No. 1 singles and Kristin Crider and Katie Bryan at
No. 1 doubles gave Delta the early advantage. Hall blanked Ashley Huffine 6-0 and
6-0, the 14th time this season Hall has kept her opponent from scoring. The
Delta doubles duo also shut out Bellmontâ??s twin tandem of Megan and Molly
Martin.
victories from Haley Hall at No. 1 singles and Kristin Crider and Katie Bryan at
No. 1 doubles gave Delta the early advantage. Hall blanked Ashley Huffine 6-0 and
6-0, the 14th time this season Hall has kept her opponent from scoring. The
Delta doubles duo also shut out Bellmontâ??s twin tandem of Megan and Molly
Martin.
â??Our No. 1
doubles and Hall donâ??t mess around,â? said Delta coach Tim Cleland. â??Theyâ??re undefeated
this season — itâ??s almost expected that they would win today.â?
doubles and Hall donâ??t mess around,â? said Delta coach Tim Cleland. â??Theyâ??re undefeated
this season — itâ??s almost expected that they would win today.â?
The Eagles
needed just one more point to secure their reign as regional champions, and it
came from the No. 2 doubles team of Chelsea Overmyer and Kelly Crider. The
twosome posted a 6-1, 7-6(7-4) victory over Bellmontâ??s Quinci Huffine and Abbie
Doan.
needed just one more point to secure their reign as regional champions, and it
came from the No. 2 doubles team of Chelsea Overmyer and Kelly Crider. The
twosome posted a 6-1, 7-6(7-4) victory over Bellmontâ??s Quinci Huffine and Abbie
Doan.
â??No. 2 doubles
didnâ??t have that ****** instinct in the second set,â? Cleland said. â??We left the
door open, and they got ahead of us.â?
didnâ??t have that ****** instinct in the second set,â? Cleland said. â??We left the
door open, and they got ahead of us.â?
Deltaâ??s
No. 2 duo was down 1-2 in the second set and didnâ??t get ahead of Bellmont till
the score went from 4-5 to 6-5 in the Eaglesâ?? favor.
No. 2 duo was down 1-2 in the second set and didnâ??t get ahead of Bellmont till
the score went from 4-5 to 6-5 in the Eaglesâ?? favor.
â??Not many
players can learn from mistakes and win at the same time,â? Cleland surmised.
players can learn from mistakes and win at the same time,â? Cleland surmised.
Added
Smith, his championship coaching counterpart: â??It was a close game for great
doubles. If we could have went into three in that match, we might have been
able to take them.â?
Smith, his championship coaching counterpart: â??It was a close game for great
doubles. If we could have went into three in that match, we might have been
able to take them.â?
No
foolinâ??. With Deltaâ??s No. 2 and No. 3 singles players both suffering close
losses, the door had indeed been opened. Delta No. 2 Kristin Mc Kinney lost to Bellmontâ??s
Sara Werling, 4-6 4-6, while Delta No. 3 Carly Humphrey was defeated 5-7, 6-4,
3-6 by the Bravesâ?? April Erxleben.
foolinâ??. With Deltaâ??s No. 2 and No. 3 singles players both suffering close
losses, the door had indeed been opened. Delta No. 2 Kristin Mc Kinney lost to Bellmontâ??s
Sara Werling, 4-6 4-6, while Delta No. 3 Carly Humphrey was defeated 5-7, 6-4,
3-6 by the Bravesâ?? April Erxleben.
With the
tight 3-2 team victory, Delta advances to the Carroll (Fort Wayne) Semistate May 27. The Eagles will
face Kokomo
(18-4) in one semifinal, with the winner tackling the survivor of No. 9 Homestead (17-0) vs. No. 13 Zionsville (15-3).
tight 3-2 team victory, Delta advances to the Carroll (Fort Wayne) Semistate May 27. The Eagles will
face Kokomo
(18-4) in one semifinal, with the winner tackling the survivor of No. 9 Homestead (17-0) vs. No. 13 Zionsville (15-3).
â??We arenâ??t
going to cruise through each match any more,â? Cleland said. â??We have strength
in certain areas. This is what I call â??Survive and Advanceâ?? — it was a closer
match than I would want, but we survived.
going to cruise through each match any more,â? Cleland said. â??We have strength
in certain areas. This is what I call â??Survive and Advanceâ?? — it was a closer
match than I would want, but we survived.
â??Iâ??ll
worry about this for five minutes, then thatâ??s it. You canâ??t think of too far
into this tournament, or youâ??ll get behind.â?
worry about this for five minutes, then thatâ??s it. You canâ??t think of too far
into this tournament, or youâ??ll get behind.â?
In the
individual sectional held concurrently with the team regional, Andersonâ??s
Alisha Cummings advanced to the June 3 regionals in singles by defeating
Bellmontâ??s Ashley Huffine and Rachel Barger of Adams Central by identical 6-0,
6-1 scores. On the doubles side, freshman Ashlan Allison
and sophomore Kelsey McFadden of Anderson Highland improved to 13-0 in
advancing.
individual sectional held concurrently with the team regional, Andersonâ??s
Alisha Cummings advanced to the June 3 regionals in singles by defeating
Bellmontâ??s Ashley Huffine and Rachel Barger of Adams Central by identical 6-0,
6-1 scores. On the doubles side, freshman Ashlan Allison
and sophomore Kelsey McFadden of Anderson Highland improved to 13-0 in
advancing.
SEMIFINALS
Delta 5, Muncie Central 0
No. 1
Singles â??? Haley Hall (D) def. Kyle Hall 6-0, 6-0
Singles â??? Haley Hall (D) def. Kyle Hall 6-0, 6-0
No. 2
Singles â??? Kristin McKinney
(D) def. Trista Hardwick 6-1, 6-3
Singles â??? Kristin McKinney
(D) def. Trista Hardwick 6-1, 6-3
No. 3
Singles â??? Carly Humphrey (D) def. Whitney Ruble 6-0, 6-2
Singles â??? Carly Humphrey (D) def. Whitney Ruble 6-0, 6-2
No. 1
Doubles â??? Katie Bryan/Kristin Crider (D) def. Kathryn Smith/Alex Ayers 6-0, 6-0
Doubles â??? Katie Bryan/Kristin Crider (D) def. Kathryn Smith/Alex Ayers 6-0, 6-0
No. 2
Doubles â??? Chelsea Overmyer/Kelly Crider (D) def. Bailey Hall/Michelle Schmaltz 6-1,
6-2
Doubles â??? Chelsea Overmyer/Kelly Crider (D) def. Bailey Hall/Michelle Schmaltz 6-1,
6-2
Bellmont 4, Anderson 1
No. 1
Singles â??? Alisha
Cummings (A) def. Ashley Huffine 6-0, 6-1
Singles â??? Alisha
Cummings (A) def. Ashley Huffine 6-0, 6-1
No. 2
Singles â??? Sara Werling (B) def. Kerri Lennartz 6-3, 7-5
Singles â??? Sara Werling (B) def. Kerri Lennartz 6-3, 7-5
No. 3
Singles â??? April
Erxleben (B) def. Jenae Forrer 6-2, 6-2
Singles â??? April
Erxleben (B) def. Jenae Forrer 6-2, 6-2
No. 1
Doubles â??? Megan
Martin/Molly Martin (B)
def. Molly Barber/Aleasha Exkstein 6-1, 6-0
Doubles â??? Megan
Martin/Molly Martin (B)
def. Molly Barber/Aleasha Exkstein 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 Doubles â??? Quinci Huffine/Abbie
Doan (B) def. Rachael McLaughin/Brittany
Woschitz 6-0, 6-2
Doan (B) def. Rachael McLaughin/Brittany
Woschitz 6-0, 6-2
CHAMPIONSHIP
Delta 3, Bellmont 2
No. 1
Singles â??? Haley Hall (D) def. Ashley Huffine 6-0, 6-0
Singles â??? Haley Hall (D) def. Ashley Huffine 6-0, 6-0
No. 2
Singles â??? Sara Werling (B) def. Kristin McKinney 6-4, 6-4
Singles â??? Sara Werling (B) def. Kristin McKinney 6-4, 6-4
No. 3
Singles â??? April
Erxleben (B) def. Carly
Humphrey 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
Singles â??? April
Erxleben (B) def. Carly
Humphrey 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
No. 1
Doubles â??? Katie Bryan/Kristin Crider (D) def. Megan Martin/Molly Martin 6-0, 6-0
Doubles â??? Katie Bryan/Kristin Crider (D) def. Megan Martin/Molly Martin 6-0, 6-0
No. 2
Doubles â??? Chelsea Overmyer/Kelly Crider (D) def. Quinci Huffine/Abbie Doan 6-1, 7-6(7-4)
Doubles â??? Chelsea Overmyer/Kelly Crider (D) def. Quinci Huffine/Abbie Doan 6-1, 7-6(7-4)
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