A change in venue didn’t have an effect on Center Grove’s sixth-ranked girls tennis team, which rolled to a 5-0 win over No. 25 Franklin in the sectional championship on Friday.
Rain in the area forced the match to be moved from Center Grove’s home courts to the indoor facility at the University of Indianapolis. That did little to slow the Trojans’ march to their fourth straight sectional crown and 29th overall.
“A lot of these girls hit here all of the time during the winter and we had a few practices here earlier in the season,” Center Grove coach Debby Burton said of the facility. “I think they’re very comfortable here and most of them are experienced enough to know that’s the way it is.”
While the Trojans breezed through all three singles matches, both doubles tilts were closer affairs.
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Center Grove’s No. 1 doubles squad of Emily Hoy and Ashlee Fisk gutted out a hard-fought 6-2, 6-2 win over Franklin’s Daryn Hyneman and Abigail Smith, who had won in three sets each of the previous two days.
The match at No. 2 doubles was even closer, with the Trojan tandem of Jenna Boha and Holyn Aukerman posting a 7-5, 6-3 win over Rachel Pinnick and Allison Bennett.
Burton knew that both doubles matches would be battles and she wasn’t disappointed.
“Franklin is a well-coached team. (Coach) Rusty (Hughes) has been around a long time and his doubles teams are always talented,” Burton said. “That’s why I spent so much time on that part of the court; I knew that’s where I needed to be. We had a sub at No. 2 doubles (Boha) and she did a great job in just her second varsity match and Holyn did a good job of adjusting to her and playing well.”
Isabella Schoolcraft started Center Grove off on the right foot with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Franklin’s Kaitlin Heuchan at No. 1 singles. Despite the score, Schoolcraft had to work for every point.
“She’s a good player and I played her during county so I knew that she was going to give me a good match,” Schoolcraft said. “But I felt really good about the way I played.”
Ellie Strube equaled Schoolcraft with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Alexa Wilkison at No. 2 singles and Jillian Garrett posted a 6-2, 6-0 win over Emma Genter at No. 3 singles.
“We were the favorites, but I also think that puts more pressure on you,” Schoolcraft said. “It was exciting that we could win at all five positions and just do what we were expected to do.”
The loss ends a spectacular season for Franklin, which won the Mid-State Conference championship and posted an 17-3 record, with two of those three losses coming to Center Grove.
“They all played hard and they got better during the season,” Hughes said. “They supported each other as a team and they’re just a big family and that’s what makes it fun. We rotated starters earlier in the year and those who weren’t starting supported those who were. You don’t always get that.”
Center Grove will now host Franklin Central in the regional semifinals on Tuesday.
