By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – For the second time in three years, a Fishers tennis player is in the IHSAA girls individual state semifinals.
Sophomore Mischa Briggs advanced to the semis with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Providence’s Riley Trinkle, a fellow sophomore, at Park Tudor’s tennis courts. Briggs improved to 28-1 for the season with her victory, and will play for a spot in the state championship this morning at Park Tudor.
“It’s a little bit nerve-wracking because of all the pressure, but I just ultimately find it really nice and exciting, and I like all the cheering that happens,” said Briggs. “I like having my team here.”
Briggs joins Lucy Loy, who made it to the state semifinals for the Tigers in 2021.
Briggs ran through the first set 6-1, playing a creative and varied game. Briggs used slice backhands, lobs, strong groundstrokes, and the occasional drop shot to easily take the first set.
“I really like to do a lot of slicing,” said Briggs. “I really like lobbing against certain people. I try to incorporate thins against different people due to their skill set. And drop shots, too.”
The second set was a little more difficult, as both players were returning well. Neither player held serve through the first seven games of the set. Briggs finally held to go up 5-3, and closed out the match minutes later. She used her variety well again, including volleys that helped set up winning points.
“I like to come to the net, even with being 5-2,” said Briggs.
The two sophomores are very familiar with each other, having played against each other for years. Briggs had beaten Trinkle five consecutive times before Trinkle won the next two meetings.
“It goes back and forth, me and her,” said Briggs. “She’s a really good player.”
Briggs will play Columbus North junior Kathryn Wilson in today’s semifinals, which begin at 10 a.m. Wilson is unbeaten for the year at 28-0.
“I know she’s a lefty, so that will be exciting,” said Briggs.
In the other semifinal, South Bend St. Joseph junior Molly Bellia (20-0) plays Park Tudor junior Caitlin Van Winkle (13-5). Bellia won a tough three-set match over Lawrence North’s Isabelle May 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
In doubles, Carmel’s team of seniors Ali Griffin and Alexa Lewis (27-1) received a bye into the semifinals and will play North Central’s team of senior Rachel Grissom and junior Caroline Robinson (26-3). The other semifinal features the Floyd Central duo of senior Amelia Meunier and junior Elizabeth Banet (21-1) taking on Jasper seniors Allison Schnarr and Brailyn Whaley (22-1).
The doubles semifinals also begin at 10 a.m., with both the singles and doubles championships starting at 2 p.m.