Boys’ tennis teams from Delta and Marion have had some epic battles in the regional in recent years. They met again Tuesday night, but this time the result was more one-sided than normal.
Delta, ranked 16th, pounded 29th-ranked Marion 4-1 on the Giants’ home courts. Of the 10 sets played, seven of them were 6-0, 6-1 or 6-2 in favor of the Eagles.
Delta (18-3) will face Lapel in the regional finals at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Marion courts. The Eagles will be vying for their seventh straight regional title and a berth in the Homestead Semi-State on Saturday.
No. 1 singles player Tannon Dishman cruised past Marion’s Noah Lyons, 6-1, 6-1. Dishman is now 20-4 for the season and has 76 career victories, which moves him past former stars Andy Rector and Ethan Grove into eighth place all-time for Delta Tennis.
No. 3 singles player Tanner Southerland won 6-1, 6-0 over Marion’s Cole Madden. Southerland is now 19-4.
Delta continued its hot play in doubles. Neither Eagles’ doubles team has lost since Sept. 1st. Joel Ashman and Brandon Jackson won for the 15th straight time at No. 1 doubles as they beat Marion’s Jonathan Walts and Jack Fauser, 6-2, 6-3. Ashman and Jackson improved to 21-2. Walts and Fauser had lost only once all season prior to this match.
Michael Curtis and Mason Knight notched their 14th straight win at No. 2 doubles. They dominated Caleb Spitzer and Ethan Eltzroth, 6-1, 6-0.
Marion’s lone point came at No. 2 singles where Vikram Oddiraju completed a perfect 24-0 season. He withstood a strong second-set rally to beat Ben Bamidele 6-1, 7-5.
Another undefeated player awaits Delta in the regional finals. Lapel’s Jesse McCurdy is unbeaten for the season at No. 1 singles.