The Eagles completed an undefeated Hoosier Heritage Conference season by blanking Shelbyville 5-0 on Saturday morning at the Mt. Vernon courts.
The match was played in a steady 20 mph crosswind.
Delta had won 13 straight HHC titles in girls’ tennis before Mt. Vernon claimed the crown last spring. The 19th-ranked Eagles regained the title this spring, with the key match being a 3-2 win over 16th-ranked Mt. Vernon in mid-April.
The Eagles outscored the rest of the six conference opponents 28-1 in varsity singles and doubles matches.
The toughest match on Saturday came at No. 1 singles, where junior Elizabeth Bamidele battled Shelbyville sophomore Ava Muckerheide for 2 1/2 hours in the strong winds. Bamidele prevailed 7-5, 7-6 (6).
Bamidele is now 12-7 in her first season at No. 1 singles. She finished 5-2 in conference matches, losing only to Mt. Vernon all-state player Caroline Allen (4-6, 3-6) and to Yorktown’s Jillian Darby in three sets.
Senior Brylee Beckley defeated Shelbyville Sophia Asher, 6-2, 6-0. Asher had lost only twice this season prior to the match. Beckley improved to 16-4 this spring, including 7-0 in HHC matches.
Junior Stella Sieber played No. 3 singles and won 6-0, 6-1. Stella improved to 6-0 varsity and 10-1 JV for the season.
The Eagles won both doubles matches 6-0, 6-0. At No. 1 doubles, Kelsey Vest and Katie Manor are now 18-3. At No. 2 doubles, Rowan Hinds and Alexa Bratton also have only three losses for the season.
Delta won the JV match 14-2.
Olivia Marshall, Tru Swoboda, Maddi Cox and Kinley Meekin won in singles.
Anna Marcum/Addy Anderson, Marley Dowling/Avery Gray, Audrey Anderson/Ella Marcum, Maggie Ratts/Mylee Jones, Mackemzie Lipps/Ilicia Ritter, Avery Barnes/Sammi Raleigh, Maddy Polito/Katelynn Preston, Chloe Oliver/Karlie Obenski, Noelle Longsworth/Emma Lyons, and Avery Ayres/Callie Stotler all won doubles matches.
Records for Varsity players:
Elizabeth = 12-7 overall, 5-2 in HHC
Brylee = 16-4 overall, 7-0 in HHC
Olivia = 15-2 overall, 5-0 in HHC (was leading 4-3 in third set of NP match when rained out)
Kelsey / Kate = 18-3 overall, 6-1 in HHC
Rowan = 17-3 overall, 7-0 in HHC
Alexa = 16-3 overall, 7-0 in HHC
Stella = 6-0 overall, 1-0 in HHC
Records for JV players:
Stella = 10-1
Tru = 16-3
Maddi C = 18-2
Anna = 9-3
Addy = 12-4
Marley = 13-4
Avery G = 18-2
Audrey = 10-4
Mylee = 13-3
Ella = 11-5
Maddy P = 10-2
Maggie = 10-2
Mackemzie = 7-6
Ilicia = 7-5
Katelynn = 5-5
Avery B = 5-5
Noelle = 5-5
Chloe = 6-5
Sammi = 5-4
Blaysha = 4-6
Karlie = 4-5
Ryanne = 2=8
Addisen = 6-5
Izzy = 5-5
Shayla = 4-5
Emma = 4-5
Kinley 4-6
Avery A = 2-7
Selah = 3-5
Callie = 2-6
Emily = 1-8
The team will finish the regular season with one additional match. The Eagles will play at 25th-ranked Franklin Community HS at 6 p.m. Monday in a varsity match with two JV singles and one JV doubles position also.
Sectional then begins Wednesday at Delta.