The Noblesville girls tennis team opened its season by toughing out a 3-2 dual meet win with Lawrence North Wednesday at the Noblesville East Middle School courts.
On a warmer but windy day, the Millers got three straight-set wins to clinch the match. No. 1 singles, senior Jayna Armstrong, came from behind in both sets to win 7-5, 6-4. Armstrong was down 3-0 in the second set before winning six of the next seven games.
“To be honest, the stress kind of got to me and that’s one of the reasons why I started getting down,” said Armstrong. “But Britni, my coach, actually helped me get more into the mental game again so I could come back.”
Assistant coach Britni Paul, who is filling in for head coach Tim Samons this week, was happy with the team’s effort.
“It was really good,” said Paul. “The girls fought really hard and came back in several of the matches and had to battle the wind. I’m really proud of them and they really played with a lot of confidence today.”
Sophomore Sarah Clark also won a tough first set, then rolled through the second set to take the No. 2 singles match 7-5, 6-1. At No. 1 doubles, senior Rachel Dyer and freshman Katelyn Decker scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
The other two matches were close as well. No. 3 singles, sophomore Madi Randolph battled in a 6-4, 6-4 loss, while the No. 2 doubles team of freshman Kaylee David and junior Alex Greer took their opponents to a third-set super tiebreak before falling 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.
Armstrong has committed to play at Grace College next year.
“I just want to have a good season,” said Armstrong. “It’s going to be sad to be done, but I am excited for the next steps.”
Noblesville plays its first Hoosier Crossroads Conference meet today, traveling to Zionsville for a 5:15 p.m. contest.
Noblesville 3, Lawrence North 2
No. 1 singles: Jayna Armstrong def. Shaw 7-5, 6-4
No. 2 singles: Sarah Clark def. Satz 7-5, 6-1
No. 3 singles: Madi Randolph lost to Freije 6-4, 6-4
No. 1 doubles: Rachel Dyer and Katelyn Decker def. Mouser and Manner 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 doubles: Kaylee David and Alex Greer lost to Griffin and Hinshaw 6-4, 4-6, 10-5
Defending state champion Carmel, ranked No. 1 in the first coaches poll of the season, hosted Sacred Heart Academy from Louisville – Kentucky’s No. 1-ranked team, Wednesday at the Todd Witsken Tennis Center.
The Greyhounds won 4-1. All of the matches were decided in straight sets. Lauren Lemonds, last year’s individual singles champion, won the No. 1 singles match 6-3, 6-2, while Syd Morris swept the No. 3 singles match 6-0, 6-0. Carmel’s doubles teams dropped only seven games in those two matches, with No. 1 Emma Brune and Kiersten Carlson winning 6-1, 6-1 and No. 2 Grace Marchese and Leila Antony victorious 6-3, 6-2.
Carmel 4, Sacred Heart Academy 1
No. 1 singles: Lauren Lemonds def. Beckman 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 singles: Soren Liechter lost to Eades 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 singles: Syd Morris def. Wagner 6-0, 6-0
No. 1 doubles: Emma Brune and Kiersten Carlson def. Rueff and Higgins 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 doubles: Grace Marchese and Leila Antony def. Birk and Chou 6-3, 6-2
Sixth-ranked Hamilton Southeastern beat Zionsville 4-1 for its first win of the season.
The Royals took care of the meet quickly by winning all three singles. “The singles players played great, only dropping a total of four games,” said HSE coach Kirk Webber.
Audrey De Witt won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, followed by No. 2 Ashley Spirrison 6-0, 6-0 and No. 3 Tea Vrkic 6-2, 6-0. The Eagles won at No. 1 doubles, but Nikki Hite and Jillian Pence won the No. 2 doubles match 6-4, 6-3.
Southeastern is now 1-1 for the season and will play Canterbury tonight at Taylor University.
Southeastern 4, Zionsville 1
No. 1 singles: Audrey De Witt def. Jones 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 singles: Ashley Spirrison def. Mingus 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 singles: Tea Vrkic def. Allen 6-2, 6-0
No. 1 doubles: Jeorgia Templin and Taylor Cleary lost to A. Campbell and L. Campbell 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 doubles: Nikki Hite and Jillian Pence def. Kapur and Pittman 6-4, 6-3
On Tuesday, Hamilton Heights dropped its first meet of the season to Alexandria 4-1.
The Huskies’ lone win came from the No. 2 doubles team of Kinsey Dimmock and Emily Peterson.
“We saw a lot of good things in tonight’s opening match,” said Heights coach Cameron Scott. “Despite not picking up the team win against a team from Alexandria that has a lot of tennis experience, a lot of our girls played hard and played with confidence. I’m incredibly excited to see this team continue to develop as we get more and more time on the court under our belts.”
The Huskies junior varsity team came out on top 6-3, picking up wins from Hailey Vanseveren and Jackie Beery in singles and Addi Gordon/Katy Beery, Kate Biggs/Gwendolyn Kelley, Brooke Sears/Cortney Martin, and Ellie Arrowood/Caitlin Hartwick in doubles.
Alexandria 4, Heights 1
No. 1 singles: Anna Carl lost to Kelly 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 singles: Kennedy Hunter lost to Chaplin 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 singles: Abby Weber lost to Adams 6-3, 6-2
No. 1 doubles: Kylie Rose and Emma Knowles lost to Miller and Sayre 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 doubles: Emily Peterson and Kinsey Dimmock def. Aiman and Hiser 6-4, 6-1
Noblesville’s No. 1 singles player Jayna Armstrong won her match in straight sets Wednesday, clinching the Millers’ 3-2 dual meet victory over Lawrence North. (Richie Hall)
Hamilton Southeastern’s No. 2 doubles team of Nikki Hite (left) and Jillian Pence (right) won in straight sets Wednesday during the Royals’ dual meet with Zionsville. (Photo provided)