By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The Carmel girls tennis team began its 2026 season on Tuesday with a new coach and a dual meet victory.
The Greyhounds beat Westfield 4-1 at the Todd Witsken Tennis Center. It was a battle between two defending sectional champions: Carmel won its 33rd in a row last season, while the Shamrocks won a sectional on their way to a state semifinal appearance.
A former Greyhounds state champion is now coaching her old team. Kierstin Carlson graduated from Carmel in 2018. She was part of two of the Greyhounds’ state championship lineups, playing No. 1 singles as a freshman in 2015 and No. 2 singles as a junior in 2017.
“It is extremely fun and exciting,” said Carlson. “I have loved this opportunity so far. It’s been really cool coming back to my alma mater and being able to coach these girls, and something that I lived an experience of not that long ago.”
Carlson said that when she played for Carmel, the team was “very big on team culture and energy and positivity and attitude, so I’m really trying to instill that in this group of girls, especially because tennis is usually an individual sport and right now these girls have the opportunity to do the sport as a team, so I want them to take full advantage of that and support each other and lean on their teammates.”
The Greyhounds’ lineup features four seniors. Olivia Widjaja is playing No. 1 singles, returning after missing last year with an injury. Olivia’s sister Alexia Widjaja playing at No. 2 singles. Carmel’s No. 1 doubles team consists of seniors Madison Littell and Gabby Hall.
The Hounds’ other three varsity players against the Shamrocks were sophomores. Annie Mann competed at No. 3 singles, with Shravya Pillutla and Daksha Sivvala playing No. 2 doubles.
“They are absolutely crushing it, said Carlson. “They’re holding their own and they’re fitting right into their spot like they know they belong.”
Carmel’s victories came at Nos. 2 and 3 singles and both doubles matches. Westfield junior Isla Harvey won the No. 1 singles match; she moves up into that position after playing No. 2 singles last year. The Rocks also have their No. 1 doubles team of senior Jenna Berry and junior Bella Rivera back this season.
“We still have a lot of experience on the varsity team and then we have some new players to the team,” said Westfield coach Trudy Coler.
Those new players include freshman Sloane Seyforth, who played No. 2 singles for the Shamrocks. Junior Rayna Ray played at No. 3 singles, while junior Emerson Dierkes and senior Kendall Omer played at No. 2 doubles.
Both teams will be off for several days due to Spring Break and return to action on April 14. Carmel will host Delta, while the Shamrocks host Brownsburg in a Hoosier Crossroads Conference meet.
Carmel 4, Westfield 1
No. 1 singles: Isla Harvey (W) def. Olivia Widjaja (C) 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 singles: Alexia Widjaja (C) def. Sloane Seyforth (W) 7-5, 6-1
No. 3 singles: Annie Mann (C) def. Rayna Roy (W) 6-1, 6-1
No. 1 doubles: Madison Littell and Gabby Hall (C) def. Jenna Berry and Bella Rivera (W) 7-6 (3), 6-2
No. 2 doubles: Shravya Pillutla and Daksha Sivvala (C) def. Emerson Dierkes and Kendall Omer (W) 6-1, 6-3
Be the first to comment on "Carmel beats Westfield in season-opening meet"