A matchup of two of Indiana’s top 20 ranked tennis teams lived up to its billing on Thursday night as No. 20 Delta and No. 14 Center Grove finished a long battle under the lights at the Mt. Vernon courts.

Center Grove gained a 4-1 victory by winning the majority of the closest sets.  Six sets were 6-4, 7-5 or 7-6, and the Trojans won five of those six close sets.

Delta (15-3) collected its point at No. 1 singles, where Gabby Knight won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 for her 14th victory of the season.

One of the evening’s most exciting matches came at No. 1 doubles.  Center Grove’s top doubles team of Lauren Dick and Aly Beechler is undefeated together for the season with victories over Carmel, Zionsville, Cathedral, Brebeuf and Bloomington North among other powerful opponents.  Delta’s Janet Wegener and Katie Manor entered with an 18-2 record. Center Grove won the first set 5-7, then Delta gained a 6-3 win in the second set.  The Eagles led 4-3 in the final set before CG rallied for a 4-6 win.

No. 2 doubles also was tight.  Center Grove pulled out a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Kelsey Vest and Rowan Hinds.

At No. 3 singles, Iva Witter dropped the first set 0-6 but then rallied for a 4-3 lead in the second set.  Her opponent regrouped, however, and hung on for a 6-0, 6-4 victory.

At No. 2 singles, Brylee Beckley fell to her consistent opponent, 3-6, 0-6.

In the JV match, Center Grove won 8-7.  A highlight for the Eagles came at No. 1 singles, where freshman Elizabeth Bamidele rallied from an 0-5 hole to won 7-5.  Anna Marcum and Marley Dowling also played one of their top matches of the season with a 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles. Tru Swoboda gained a nice 6-4 singles victory.

Delta will end the regular season at 10 a.m. Saturday with a conference match against Shelbyville at the Mt. Vernon courts.

Here are the complete results:

Varsity Singles