No matter how long a postseason winning streak gets, it remains a special experience for the individual girls involved in the latest victory.
And that was the case again Thursday evening as Delta cruised to 5-0 victories over Yorktown and Muncie Burris to win the Eagles’ 14th consecutive sectional championship.
Delta limited Yorktown to just seven total games, then allowed just nine games in the finals against Burris.
But even with the big margins and the long streaks, the Eagles still celebrated with photos and videos long into the cool evening. For seniors Brylee Beckley and Kelsey Vest, it was their fourth — and final — time to enjoy the sectional photo ceremony. For other players, such as juniors Olivia Marshall and Stella Sieber, it was their first time playing varsity in the postseason.
The 16th-ranked Eagles have compiled an amazing season. They will roll into the Noblesville Regional with a 12-match winning streak and a 19-2 overall record, losing only to #2 Carmel (0-5) and #9 Fort Wayne Carroll (2-3). They have victories over #17 Center Grove, #19 Homestead, #20 Mt. Vernon and #23 Franklin.
They have achieved this with only two seniors on the team’s 17-player postseason tournament roster.
Junior Elizabeth Bamidele won twice at No. 1 singles on Saturday, yielding only five games in the two matches. An anticipated rematch with Yorktown senior Jillian Darby did not materialize as Darby missed the match due to sickness. Bamidele extended her record to 14-8 at the top spot.
Senior Brylee Beckley went 2-0 at No. 2 singles and now stands 19-4 and on the cusp of a 20-win season for the first time in her four-year fulltime varsity career.
Juniors Olivia Marshall and Stella Sieber shared the spotlight at No. 3 singles. Marshall won 6-2, 6-2 over Yorktown’s Alysse Taylor to improve to 17-2 for the season. Sieber won 6-1, 6-1 over Burris’ Anna Murray in the title match and now is 7-0 varsity and 11-1 JV for the season.
Both doubles teams were thoroughly dominant on the evening, as they have been much of the season.
At No. 1, senior Kelsey Vest and junior Kate Manor won 6-0, 6-0 over Yorktown and 6-2, 6-0 over Burris. The Owls’ senior duo of Joey Burton and Grace Murray put up a good fight, but Vest and Manor had too much firepower and confidence. Vest and Manor now stand 21-3 for the season.
Vest now has 73 career varsity victories, which moves her into seventh place on the all-time list for DHS girls’ tennis. Manor has amassed 70 career varsity wins and is now the first player in DHS Tennis history to reach that number while still a junior.
At No. 2 doubles, junior Rowan Hinds and sophomore Alexa Bratton were sharp all night, winning both matches 6-0, 6-0. Hinds improved to 20-3 while Bratton is 19-3 this spring.
Next up for Delta will be a match against the Jay County Sectional winner in the opening round of the Noblesville Regional on Tuesday (starting time to be determined). Other teams in the regional will be the Noblesville Sectional winner and the the Frankton Sectional winner. Fourth-ranked Westfield is expected to advance from the Noblesville Sectional but that tournament has been delayed until Saturday.
Complete Results
DELTA 5, YORKTOWN 0
Singles
- Bamidele def. Carder, 6-0, 6-1
- Beckley def. Clark, 6-1, 6-1
- Marshall def. Taylor, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
- Vest/Manor def. McCammon/Shrieve, 6-0, 6-0
- Hinds/Bratton def. McKay/Wolfert, 6-0, 6-0
DELTA 5, MUNCIE BURRIS 0
Singles
- Bamidele def. Donahue, 6-3, 6-1
- Beckley def. Hense, 6-1, 6-0
- Sieber def. A. Murray, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
- Vest/Manor def. Burton/G. Murray, 6-2, 6-0
- Hinds/Bratton def. Miller/Reed, 6-0, 6-0