On Teacher Appreciation Day, the girls’ tennis team passed a major test in the Hoosier Heritage Conference with a 3-2 victory over Mt. Vernon.
Prior to the match, the team members each honored a special educator in their lives, giving them a special gift and some words of affirmation in a ceremony.
The matchup between two state-ranked teams likely will go a long way toward determining the HHC championship this season as the Eagles (ranked 13th) and the Marauders (ranked 30th) appear to have the most talent and depth in the league.
Delta remained unbeaten for the season at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the league. The Eagles used their depth to gain the team victory. For the second straight season, Delta lost at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles to Mt, Vernon but won the team match by controlling No. 2 singles, No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles.
Olivia Marshall played her best match of the season with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Elena Marmion at No. 2 singles.
Stella Sieber also was sharp in a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Avery Spalding at No. 3 singles.
And the team of Elizabeth Bamidele and Rowan Hinds were dominant in a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles over Lily Hua and Alaina Lockwood.
It was only fitting that Marshall, Sieber, Bamidele and Hinds were winners on Teacher Appreciation Day. All are ranked among the Top 25 students academically in the Class of 2026.
The match began outdoors at Delta but was delayed twice by lightning. With no individual matches yet determined, the teams then moved to the First Serve Racquet Club in Muncie to finish the match.
The No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles positions each saw big momentum shifts indoors.
At No. 1 singles, Mt. Vernon senior Caroline Allen, second team All-State Singles a year ago, led Delta freshman Sophie Crabtree 6-0, 2-1 outdoors. Crabtree put on a charge indoors to take a 4-3 lead in the second set before Allen steadied herself to finish out a 6-0, 6-4 victory.
At. No. 1 doubles, Delta senior Kate Manor and junior Alexa Bratton won the first set 6-2 outdoors and trailed 1-2 in the second set against Mt, Vernon juniors Avery Koon and Ivy Zhu. The teams played on much more even terms indoors as it turned in to the night’s tightest match. The Eagles led 5-4 in the second set and had a chance to serve for the match but got broken. MV went on to win the second set in a tiebreaker.
The third set was nip and tuck throughout and featured many hard-hitting exchanges and tough net play. On one point midway through the final set, Bratton hit a winning volley even after losing a shoe as she charged toward the net. However, Mt. Vernon took the final set 6-4.
Delta has won 14 of the last 15 conference championships, losing the title only to Mt. Vernon in 2024 before regaining the championship and the traveling trophy racquet last spring.
In JV action, Delta claimed a 6-1 victory.
Paige Hayes, Maddi Cox and Bria Engle swept singles.
Doubles winners were Avery Gray/Addy Anderson, Mia Elliott/Maddy Polito, and Audrey Anderson/Ella Marcum.
Next up for Delta is a non-conference dual meet at Alexandria today (Thursday) at 4:45 p.m. The Eagles then compete in two weekend tournaments, with the varsity heading to the Crawfordsville Invitational and the JV going to the Plymouth Invitational. Both are 8-team tournaments featuring many large-enrollment opponents.
Complete Results
Varsity
DELTA 3, MT. VERNON 2
Singles
- Sophie Crabtree (D) lost to Caroline Allen, 0-6, 4-6
- Olivia Marshall (D) def. Elena Marmion, 6-2, 6-1
- Stella Sieber (D) def. Avery Spalding, 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
- Kate Manor / Alexa Bratton (D) lost to Ivy Zhu / Avery Koon, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 4-6
- Rowan HInds / Elizabeth Bamidele (D) def. Lily Hua / Alaina Lockwood, 6-1, 6-2
JV
DELTA 6, MT. VERNON 1
Singles
- Paige Hayes won 6-3
- Maddi Cox won 6-4
- Bria Engle won 6-0
Doubles
- Avery Gray / Addy Anderson won 6-2
- Mia Elliott / Maddy Polito won 6-1
- Ella Marcum / Audrey Anderson won 7-5
- Maggie Ratts / Addisen Condie lost 4-6