Seymour and Austin advanced to today’s sectional final as a result of winning their semifinal matches Thursday.
The Owls blanked Trinity Lutheran 5-0, while the Eagles edged Brownstown Central 3-2.
The Owls (16-2) did not play the Eagles during the regular season.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryOwls coach Brad Emerson said his team gave a good effort, while Trinity coach Bailey Baker said his team put up a good fight.
In singles matches, Vincent Camboulas was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Jace Crockett at No. 1, Isaac Hardin topped Noah Voelker 6-2, 6-4, at two, and Braden Handloser topped Chenjun Jiang 6-3, 6-1 at No.3.
“It was a good 5-0 win,” Emerson said. “I give Trinity (3-17) kudos. In a couple of those positions they did fight hard. Their No. 3 singles and Braden were pretty much mirror images of themselves.
“When I watched them warm up and the first couple games of the match I knew that might be a long battle,” he continued. “I’m real proud of Braden for getting through that second set the way he did and started moving the ball around more and having his opponent hit more mistakes. That was good on his part.”
He said Hardin will need to do a better job at No. 2 singles today.
“Isaac did well the first set and then he lost his focus in that second set,” he said. “He’s definitely going to have to maintain focus (against Austin).”
In spite of the loss, Baker had nothing but good things to say about his bunch.
“We had some good matches,” Baker said. “Jace did very good playing against Vincent. He played one of the best matches I’ve ever seen him play.
“Noah was very good. He had deuce a bunch of times. The second set was close. (Chenjun), wow, he played a lot today. He hit the ball a lot today.”
Seymour’s doubles teams dominated with Will Rinehart and Brandon Hubbard winning 6-0, 6-2 over Cameron Gruenwald and Jack VonDielingen at No. 1, while Trey Hohenstreiter and Andrew Levine blanked Luke Pollert and Nathan Voelker 6-0, 6-0.
“Our doubles teams are going to have to be moving,” Emerson said. “They got a little complacent for a couple games. They stopped moving their feet and started making mistakes. We definitely have to go out and play our game and keep our feet moving and make sure we’re nice and steady and consistent at singles and not make a ton of unforced errors.”
Baker was happy with the effort from his top doubles pair.
“First dubs did well,” Baker said. “First dubs started a little slow, and they got off to a better start in the second set. Second dubs had an off day, I guess.”
Brownstown’s Ethan Isaacs topped Gavin Parker 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2 to advance to the individual sectional Tuesday at Bloomington South.
“Isaacs had a great win. He came and worked during the summer. He was at any summer workout we had,” Braves coach Mitch Taylor said.
“He has just gotten a lot better and has figured out a way just to be able to compete with any kid he plays. He knows he doesn’t have the best strokes in the world as far as form goes, but he keeps the ball in play and does everything he can to win points,” Taylor continued. “He plays aggressive, and it has brought him a lot wins.”
Ethan Davis picked up the Braves’ other point with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Jakob Campbell at two singles.
“This is another kid only his second year of tennis,” Taylor said. “He came out, put the work in and it really shows throughout the whole season just how much better he’s gotten as a player here for me. I give those two credit for getting us two wins tonight. We couldn’t get a third one.”
There were a lot of long rallies at the other three positions with Blake Stamper topping Kelian East 7-5, 6-4 at three singles, while Josh Gabbard and Jalen Hines edged Reece Carlin and Griffin Stidam 6-4, 6-3 at one doubles, and Brendan Hanner and Cameron Richey topped Cole Shasteen and Trent Luedeman 6-3, 7-5 at two doubles.
“We had opportunities at all three positions,” Taylor concluded. “We weren’t able to pull a set out when we needed it, which that is part of tennis. Sometimes, the ball doesn’t bounce your way.”
The Braves finished 10-7 on the season.
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Seymour 5, Trinity Lutheran 0
No.1 singles: Vincent Camboulas (S) def. Jace Crockett (TL) 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 singles: Isaac Hardin (S) def. Noah Voelker (TL) 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 singles: Braden Handloser (S) def. Chenjun Jiang (TL) 6-3, 6-1
No. 1 doubles: Will Rinehart and Brandon Hubbard (S) def. Cameron Gruenwald and Jack VonDielingen (TL) 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 doubles: Trey Hohenstreiter and Andrew Levine (S) def. Luke Pollert and Nathan Voelker (TL) 6-0, 6-0
Records: Seymour 16-2, Trinity Lutheran 3-17
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Austin 3, Brownstown Central 2
No. 1 singles: Ethan Isaacs (BC) def. Gavin Parker (A) 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2
No. 2 singles: Ethan Davis (BC) def. Jakob Campbell (A) 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 singles: Blake Stamper (A) def. Kelian East (BC) 7-5, 6-4
No. 1 doubles: Josh Gabbard and Jalen Hines (A) def. Reece Carlin and Griffin Stidam 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 doubles: Brendan Hanner and Cameron Richey (A) def. Cole Shasteen and Trent Luedeman (BC) 6-3, 7-5
Record: BC 10-7
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