By RICHIE HALL
The girls high school tennis season is off and running in Indiana, and many teams are beginning their 2023 campaigns with difficult schedules.
Noblesville is no exception. Just look at the teams that the Millers played last week: Fishers, last year’s state runner-up, a vastly-improved Lawrence North squad, then two historically strong programs in Zionsville and North Central.
All four of those teams were ranked in the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association’s first list of the 2023 season. Fishers was No. 2, LN was rated No. 25, Zionsville was No. 5 and North Central No. 12. Noblesville began the season tied for 14th in the rankings, but moved up to No. 11 this week.
The Millers held their own against those teams. They fell to the Tigers 1-4, then were edged out by Lawrence North 3-2 before beating Zionsville 3-2. Last Saturday, Noblesville dropped another 3-2 match to the Panthers. It was a hard-fought meet, with three matches going to three sets.
The Millers got both of their wins against the Panthers in singles. No. 1 Bella Duncan got a marathon victory over NC’s Emelyn Harris, in a battle of sophomore stars. Duncan won the first set 7-5, the dropped the second set in a tiebreak. The third set was played with a 10-point super tiebreak, and Duncan prevailed 10-7.
“Bella is a gutsy player,” said Noblesville coach Kevin Lindley. “She will scrap and fight for everything. I just keep trying to tell her, ‘You got to believe in yourself, get out there and play your game.’”
Junior Josie Flinchum came from behind to win the No. 3 singles match, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, the senior team of Daniella Tuesca and Olivia Gadis pushed their opponents to three sets before falling 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Three more juniors rounded out Noblesville’s lineup. No. 2 singles Allie Stamm battled before falling 7-5, 6-1. At No. 1 doubles, the Panthers’ Rachel Grissom and Caroline Robinson beat the Millers’ Lina Hamashuk and Cami Crist 6-2, 6-3.
“Four matches into the first week, I’m super proud of the team,” said Noblesville coach Kevin Lindley. “They’re a real cohesive group. They’ve been fighting hard. We’ve lost some tough close matches, but I’m real proud of the way they’re competing.”
CONFERENCE WIN
The Millers began this week with a 4-1 win at Brownsburg. The victory gives Noblesville a 2-1 record in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference this season.
The singles players dominated, dropping only two games between their three matches. Stamm won her match 6-0, 6-0, with Duncan and Flinchum each getting 6-1, 6-0 victories. In doubles, Tuesca and Gadis came back to win in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 10-7. Hamashuk and Crist fell 6-3, 6-1.
“It was a solid team win against a conference opponent on the road,” said Lindley.
Noblesville was scheduled to play Avon Monday, but weather postponed that meet to April 26. The Millers’ next meet is Thursday, when they play at Hamilton Southeastern.