By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Today’s IHSAA girls tennis individual state semifinals will feature four undefeated players vying for a state championship.
Westfield’s Alexandra Grilliot is one of them. The freshman cruised into the semis with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Lakeland senior Emma Danihelova in the Friday afternoon quarterfinals.
The matches were to be played at Park Tudor, but rainy conditions moved them to the University of Indianapolis Tennis Center on Indy’s south side. That site is on standby to host today’s semifinals and championship matches if conditions don’t allow play at Park Tudor.
Grilliot was unbothered by the change of venue, making quick work of her opponent. She played with variety, mixing her groundstrokes with soft shots, slice backhands and more than a few trips to the net for volley winners.
“I’ve been drop-shotting since I was 9, and I’ve always loved to come to the net, serve and volley,” said Grilliot. “It’s what makes tennis fun.”
The victory was Grilliot’s 20th of the season and kept her undefeated. Playing No. 1 singles for one of the top teams in Indiana is a big responsibility, but Grilliot is enjoying the ride, saying the experience is “not that stressful. It’s been fun.”
“The matches are definitely going to get harder, but the team experience has been really fun,” said Grilliot. “I’m looking forward to all the cheering.”
Grilliot was one of three quarterfinal winners on Friday. Warren Centra junior Samaya Smith beat University junior Laurel Buttrick 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the semis. Buttrick finished her season 15-3.
“I just think she’s really good and I tried my best, and I think it was a good match,” said Buttrick, who was making her first appearance at the state meet.
“It was a good season,” said Buttrick. “I made it pretty far.”
Smith (16-0) will play Munster freshman Priyanka Tallamraju (21-0) in today’s semifinals. Tallamraju got a bye into the semis.
Grilliot’s semifinal opponent is Providence senior Riley Trinkle (14-0), who beat Evansville Reitz senior Kameron Knight 6-0, 6-1 to wrap up quarterfinal play. Trinkle played in the individual state tournament as a freshman.
Semifinal matches begin at 10 a.m. today, with the championship at 2 p.m.
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