By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The years of playing experience on the Noblesville girls tennis team are starting to reap some nice rewards.
The Millers are having a splendid season so far. Noblesville improved its dual-meet record to 5-1 for the year after beating county and Hoosier Crossroads Conference opponent Hamilton Southeastern 4-1 at the Noblesville Tennis Complex. Both teams are ranked in the latest IHSTeCA coaches poll: The Millers are No. 10, the Royals are No. 29.
Noblesville swept through all three singles matches in straight sets. No. 1 Bella Duncan was a 6-3, 6-2 winner, No. 2 Allie Stamm got a 6-1, 6-2 victory, while No. 3 Josie Flinchum picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win. The Millers’ No. 2 doubles team of senior Ava Shoemaker and freshman Jayde Stamm toughed out a 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory.
The No. 1 doubles match featured all-senior teams for both schools. Southeastern’s Peighton Bough and Maya Wetzel won a first-set tiebreak, then Noblesville’s Lina Hamashuk and Cami Crist blasted through the second set 6-0. The Royals team took the lead in the third set and held off a comeback by the Millers to win the set 6-4, thus claiming the match.
“It’s a really experienced team,” said Noblesville coach Chris Pyle. Five of the seven players on the Millers team are seniors. Duncan is a junior, but she has played No. 1 singles ever since her freshman season. Jayde Stamm is a freshman, but Pyle said she has “a lot of experience” playing.
“They’ve been in this spot many times,” said Pyle. “Last year, they grinded out more matches and now it feels we’re finishing a lot more matches early on. We’re taking control and not letting up and I think it speaks volumes when you have a lot of seniors. Their mentality and their experience are what’s helping them win on the court and not just the talent.”
Southeastern coach Doug Gernert said his team has three things it wants to accomplish this season. First, the Royals want to be known for their sportsmanship, then they want to show how much the players support one another on the court. Southeastern also wants to show how tough it is on the court.
“I really was impressed with how we fought back in all our matches,” said Gernert. “I feel like we were really in there. I know there’s a good chance we’re going to see this team again in the conference tournament. I think we’re going to learn a lot from this and I’m really happy with how we played and we hit the ball.”
Both teams are back in action Saturday at tournaments. The Millers travel to Crawfordsville for the Athenian Boosters Invitational, while the Royals will play at the Park Tudor Invitational.
NOBLESVILLE 4, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 1
No. 1 singles: Bella Duncan (N) def. Taylor Wolf (HSE) 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 singles: Allie Stamm (N) def. Morgan Filer (HSE) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 singles: Josie Flinchum (N) def. Summer Wolf (HSE) 6-2, 6-1
No. 1 doubles: Peighton Bough and Maya Wetzel (HSE) def. Lina Hamashuk and Cami Crist (N) 7-6 (7), 0-6, 6-4
No. 2 doubles: Ava Shoemaker and Jayde Stamm (N) def. Nicole Mathenge and Naina Patwardhan (HSE) 7-6 (1), 6-3
***
University improved to 3-1 by sweeping Cardinal Ritter 5-0 on Thursday.
The Trailblazers won four of the five matches in 6-0, 6-0 shutouts. Those winners were No. 1 singles Laurel Buttrick, No. 2 singles Duygu Arseven, No. 1 doubles Claire Kilgore and Kara Wang and No. 2 doubles Sruti Alturi and Lauren Quinto. No. 3 singles Anisha Patel won her match 6-0, 6-1.
University also competes at the Park Tudor Invitational on Saturday.