The Carmel girls tennis team will try to defend its state championship as the state finals begin today.
Six of eight state finalist teams have returned from a year ago and all eight rank among the top 12 teams in the final poll from the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association.
Four quarter-final matches will be played at 3 p.m. Friday at Carmel and Center Grove high schools with the winning teams advancing to the semi-final matches at 10 a.m. on Saturday at North Central High School followed by the state championship match at 2 p.m.
One of the quarter-final matches at Center Grove will be a rematch of last year’s state championship as defending state champion and top-ranked Carmel (15-1) will take on third-ranked Providence (19-1). The Greyhounds, led by singles state champion Lauren Lemonds, have extended their state record by appearing in the finals for the 10th consecutive year. Providence is making its repeat appearance having won 13 consecutive duals following its only loss to out-of-state Louisville Sacred Heart on April 17.
The other quarter-final at Center Grove pits No. 10 South Bend St. Joseph (19-3) against No. 9 Brownsburg (17-3). St. Joe returns for the third straight season having reached the championship match two seasons ago and bowing out of last year’s semifinal round. Brownsburg has won 16 straight matches to reach the state finals for the first time in school history.
At Carmel, one match calls for No. 11 Jasper (17-4) to face No. 12 Delta (18-3). Jasper has reached this level of the tournament for the fourth straight year while Delta is back for the first time since 2011.
The other quarter-final matches No. 2 Indianapolis Cathedral (16-1) with No. 6 Center Grove (17-3). Cathedral defeated Center Grove 4-1 back on May 7 and its lone loss came by a 3-2 count to Carmel on May 10. Center Grove has advanced back to the state finals for the third straight year having faced five of the other state finalist teams during the regular season. The Trojans are led by No. 1 singles player Isabella Schoolcraft who was one-half of last year’s state championship doubles tandem.
TICKETS
$5 per person per day. Tickets may be purchased at the tennis courts at each venue.
VIDEOSTREAM
For the first time, IHSAAtv.org will videostream (no commentary) the state championship matches at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
Teams Returning from 2017 State Finals (6)
Carmel, Center Grove, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jasper, Providence, South Bend St. Joseph.
Most Consecutive State Finals Appearances
10: Carmel (2009-18).
Active Streaks of Consecutive State Finals Team Appearances (3 or more years)
10: Carmel.
4: Indianapolis Cathedral, Jasper.
3: Center Grove, South Bend St. Joseph.
State Finals Appearance Droughts Broken
7 years: Delta
First Time Participants in the Field
Brownsburg.