Coming off a third place finish at the Waldron Tournament on Saturday, the Trinity Lutheran boys tennis team came out strong in their first sets against sectional-opponent Austin on Monday.
Despite a strong start to the matches, the Cougars couldn’t muster a victory in a 5-0 loss to the Eagles.
At No. 1 doubles, the Cougars duo of Tanner Craig and Bailey Baker battled early, but fell to the Eagles’ Kenton Embrey and Tanner Craig 6-4, 6-0.
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Cougars coach Mark Voss said the No. 1 doubles team played together for the first time on Monday, and will likely stay together the rest of the season.
“In the first set, they were playing well together,” Voss said. “We have a front and back hitter on that team. They both play their position very, very well. It’s a new combination for us, and I’m happy to see that they played well.”
Jonathan Keith took an early 2-1 lead in the first set against the Eagles’ Shane Terry, but went on to drop his No. 2 singles match 6-3, 6-1.
The Eagles’ Brady White defeated senior Tanner Prewitt 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles in a match of long rallies.
Cougars senior Andrew Rodriguez fell to Brison Turner 6-1, 6-3 in No. 1 singles play.
The new No. 2 doubles combination of Pierce McCammon and Spencer Muhlbach fell to the Eagles’ Jacob Watts and Drew Buehr 6-1, 6-0.
“Austin is a good team, we kind of knew what we were facing here tonight. We talked about getting started quick, early and fast and for the most part we did that,” Voss said. “(Austin’s) talent kind of broke through a bit in the second sets. They’re a formidable sectional opponent.”
Today, the Cougars (3-10) will host Edinburgh on senior night.
The Cougars will then play Southwestern on Thursday before the Seymour Sectional starts on Sept. 30.
“Whoever we draw in the first round (of sectional) will be a strong opponent,” Voss said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Brownstown Central or Austin again. We don’t know much about Seymour or Scottsburg. It doesn’t really matter who we play, as long as my kids play hard and we leave it all out there.”