6/16/2009
Second-ranked
Carmel survived a tough semifinal encounter and went on to defeat previously undefeated
Homestead, 4-1, to capture the 2009 IHSAA Girls Tennis team championship at
North Central High School in Indianapolis.
The
Greyhounds (19-1) claimed a 3-2 victory over fourth-ranked Munster (18-2) in
the morning round before sweeping both doubles matches and taking two of three
singles duels in the state championship match. Courtney Wild’s 6-3, 7-5 victory
over Homestead’s Jade Johnson proved the clinching point in the
best-of-five format.
It was the 93rd
IHSAA state championship in all sports for Carmel, its fourth this school year
and fourth in girls tennis (1989, 1990, 2003). Each girls tennis title has come with Sharon Rosenburgh
coaching the Greyhounds.
Carmel’s
Susie Chen and Sara Rodefeld, both juniors, completed
a perfect 17-0 campaign at No. 2 doubles, including a 6-1, 6-2 win over
Homestead’s Kate Bienz and Theresa Sciole in the final. Megan Renninger
and Olivia Trancik of Carmel defeated Suzie Reecer and Tiffany Schendel of Homestead,
6-3, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles and Elizabeth Trancik of
Carmel took out Homestead’s Samantha Rahrig, 6-4,
6-3, at No. 3 singles.
Homestead’s
lone point came at No. 2 singles where Macy Johnson turned away Mikaela Carlson, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The
Spartans (19-1), led by coach Jim Shull, had topped No. 5 and previously unbeaten
Terre Haute South by a 3-2 count in the semifinals for their spot in the final
match. The school was playing for the championship for the seventh time but has
never come away with the crown.
Carmel had
knocked off top-ranked and four-time defending state champion Park Tudor, 3-2,
in last weekend’s semi-state championship match to earn a spot in the
state finals. The win denied Park Tudor of its quest for a state record fifth consecutive
title.
Munster
topped Terre Haute South (21-2), 4-1, in the consolation match.
Also of
note was Munster No. 1 singles player Mary Hill who became the winningest girls singles player in
state history when she captured her 101st victory in the morning round, a 6-1,
6-3 victory over Wild. She added a 102nd win in the consolation match and
stands 102-1 in her four seasons as a Mustang heading into next weekend’s
state singles tournament.
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