The team enjoys the moment after winning sectional for the 33rd straight time. (Photo by Paige Hayes)
What do NBA legends Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal have in common with Delta Tennis?
The number 33.
The Eagles gained their 33rd consecutive sectional title, dating back to 1993, with a 5-0 shutout over Yorktown on Thursday evening.
Delta (19-2) limited Yorktown to just six total games in the finals after holding Muncie Burris to seven games in the semifinals the day before.
The 13th-ranked Eagles will move on to face 11th-ranked Westfield at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round of the Noblesville Regional. Alexandria plays Jay County in the other semifinal match.
No. 1 singles player Jackson Darby was the first off the court Thursday, pinning a 6-0, 6-0 result on Yorktown senior Reid Butts.
Moments later Charlie Vannatter made it 2-0 Delta with a 6-1, 6-0 win over senior Silas Carder at No. 2 singles.
Brady Williams and Brandon Grubbs then sealed the sectional title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 2 doubles over sophomores Colton Nichols and Jackson West.
Freshmen Brandon Grubbs, Charlie Vannatter and Jackson Darby hold the sectional trophy for the first time. (Photo by Paige Hayes)
Darby, Vannatter and Grubbs all are freshmen, while Williams is a senior.
Next to finish was the No. 1 doubles team of senior Aaron Elliott and junior Tyce Dishman. They won 6-1, 6-2 over seniors Palmer Jones and Noah Kelly.
Senior Aaron Elliott hits a backhand volley in his No. 1 doubles match against Yorktown. (Photo by Paige Hayes)
Completing the shutout was sophomore Luke Atkinson, who beat junior Aaron Buehler 6-1, 6-1.
Although the team has won 33 straight sectionals, the individual players, of course, have not. It was the first time in the sectional lineup for Darby, Vannatter and Grubbs, the second time for Atkinson and Williams, and the third time for Elliott and Dishman. Senior Ben Miller, who played No. 2 doubles in the opening round against Burris, also has two years of experience in the postseason lineup.
Sophomore Luke Atkinson lines up his backhand at No. 3 singles. (Photo by Paige Hayes)
The players line up for introductions prior to the sectional finals. (Photo by Paige Hayes)
Junior Tyce Dishman gets low for a difficult volley. (Photo by Paige Hayes)