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Bolinger, Nichols roll at No. 1 doubles for Lady Zs
BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
The Tippecanoe Valley girls tennis team swept all three singles matches and also won at No. 2 doubles to beat host Rochester 4-1 Tuesday at the RHS courts in their season opener.
Karegan Callahan, the reigning RTC Player of the Year, recorded Valley’s final point with a 7-5, 1-6, (10-4) win over Ella McCarter at No. 1 singles. The third set was decided by a 10-point tiebreak after Valley had already clinched the team victory.
Other Valley winners included Ella Sandbakken, who beat Taylor Howard 6-1, 6-2 in a battle of players moving from doubles last year to No. 2 singles this year; Sarah Finney, who topped Rylee Clevenger 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles; and Karley Hallstrom and Sienna Holder, who put away Sophie McCall and Vivian Miller 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2 doubles.
Like all teams statewide, Valley started practice March 11. However, they took last week off for spring break. With Valley no longer in the Three Rivers Conference, this match moved up on the schedule from its traditional early May date.
Valley coach Hunter Ackerman said the singles players stood out. He praised Finney for playing smart and putting a lot of topsin on her forehand against Clevenger.
He also praised Hallstrom and Holder, a first-time combination.
“We played OK,” Ackerman said. “A couple of us played really well, and a couple of us were a little bit sloppy, but that’s to be expected. It was a good first match and a good first test for us mentally. I’m proud of the girls for stepping up and winning some hard matches today.”
Rochester’s only point came from Audrey Bolinger and Chloe Nichols, who improved to 4-0 on the season with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Joanna Acosta and Maci Parker at No. 1 doubles.
“They played very well, I think,” Rochester coach Adrian Paulik said. “Having them play together in the tournament last Saturday really helped with their communication and consistency. I think they work well as a team overall, and they’re able to figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses and off that.”
Valley also won the JV match 5-0.
Results: Tippecanoe Valley 4, Rochester 1
Singles
Karegan Callahan (TV) def. Ella McCarter (RHS), 7-5, 1-6, (10-4)
Ella Sandbakken (TV) def. Taylor Howard (RHS), 6-1, 6-2
Sarah Finney (TV) def. Rylee Clevenger (RHS), 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
Audrey Bolinger-Chloe Nichols (RHS) def/ Joanna Acosta-Maci Parker (TV), 6-1, 6-1
Karley Hallstrom-Sienna Holder (TV) def. Sophie McCall-Vivian Miller (RHS), 6-2, 6-1
JV results: Valley 5, Rochester 0
Singles
Taylor Owens (TV) def. Abriella St. Martin (RHS), 8-4.
Martina Gonzalez (TV) def. Emma Murphy (RHS), 8-0.
Rylee Thompson (TV) def. Hailey Crissinger (RHS), 8-1.
Doubles
Lillie Koch-Maycee Koch (TV) def. Addison Sutton-Savannah Wolters (RHS), 8-2.
Campbell Nellans-Colby Seaney (TV) def. Julissa Lopez-Natalia Pittman (RHS), 8-1.
