Rochester, Valley girls tennis receive sectional byes

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

The Rochester and Tippecanoe Valley girls tennis teams received sectional byes, according to the IHSAA draw released Monday.

Rochester

Rochester will begin postseason play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the sectional semifinals at Culver Academy. They will play the winner of Wednesday’s match between Plymouth and Culver Academy.

Culver Academy is ranked No. 25 in the state and is a five-time reigning sectional champion. Plymouth is a two-time reigning sectional champion.

If Rochester wins Thursday, they will play in the sectional final at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

In the other half of the bracket, Triton drew North Judson, and those teams will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The winner will meet Knox at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals.

Rochester is seeking its first sectional title since 2017.

Tippecanoe Valley

Meanwhile, Valley will begin postseason play at 4:30 p.m. Friday against either Columbia City or Whitko in a sectional semifinal match at Warsaw.

Warsaw and Wawasee will meet in the other semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The sectional final is set for 10 a.m. Saturday. Valley is seeking its first sectional title.

Warsaw has won 22 consecutive sectional titles. They have not lost a sectional match since 2000.