Brownstown Central and Trinity Lutheran head tennis coaches both changed up their lineups for Tuesday’s match on the Cougar courts, but the Braves are the ones who benefited, going home with a 5-0 win.

Coach Mitch Taylor thought shifting the lineup was refreshing.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for the guys to get different looks at the positions,” he said, “the biggest reason being we’re at the part of our schedule where we just have so many matches in so many days.

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“Guys playing singles, it just kind of tires them out. Maybe they’re getting a little bored with doubles, so we switch them up so they see a different part of the game. So I’m having the guys play different positions and maybe potentially see what that might look like for a sectional line up.

“I think the guys like it. I always teach singles and doubles to everybody,

Some singles players moved to doubles, but the Braves won all five points in straight sets, Ethan Davis winning 6-0, 6-0 over Ryan Kleman at No. 1 singles, Cole Shasteen defeating Soloman Hall 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2, and Griffin Stidam beating Henry Hall 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.

Reece Carlin teamed with Ethan Isaacs for a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nathan Voelker and Luke Pollert at No. 1 doubles, and Grant Elliott and Conner Gwin blanked James Thomack and Tanner Bauserman 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.

Carlin stayed in his usual spot.

“I’ve been at one doubles the entire year,” he said. “I enjoy being able to play with a partner. Not everything is put on to me. I can put trust into someone else. Communication is a big part of it. Being able to trust and know what your partner’s strengths and weaknesses are, and being able to work with their weaknesses and work around them and get the points (is the goal).”

Getting off to a fast start matters.

“Winning the first set is very important,” Carlin said. “Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but in tennis you have the next set. You don’t have to worry about the first set, you can start fresh in the next one. It’s good to start off strong, get first games down and keep on a roll and get the first set.”

He said the team as a whole needs to work on play at the net.

“Come sectionals we’re really going to have to work on our net play, be able to rush the net and put the point away within the first shot and not get it back on a good feed by them and then put it away,” Carlin said. “We need to take advantage of the opportunities the first time when we have them and get the points right there.”

It was senior night for the Cougars and coach Cable Walton said he has enjoyed working with Bauserman, Henry Hall, Thomack and Pollert this season.

“Half our team is seniors,” Walton said. “They mean a lot to the program. They don’t play a lot of my higher spots, but they are the foundation of the team. A lot of our more level-headed people are our seniors.

“They help us in the practices, help us get to work and keep going. All of them have been doing a good job. I’ve seen a lot of improvement.”

This was Bauserman’s first varsity match after playing junior varsity part of the season.

“It’s fun to play with people and actually have your match matter,” he said. “However, you get to go against a lot better players. It’s been hot most of the year, but today was a lot nicer day.”

He said he needs to work on his backhand.

“My backhands are just all over the place,” Bauserman said. “When I’m up at the net I need to angle it better because sometimes they just go flying out. This is the perfect weather for tennis except for the wind. The wind messes with all the balls.

“The worst wind is when you’re hitting it and the wind is going with the ball. Let’s say you’re trying to hit a lob shot, you have to allow for the wind. These tennis balls are not heavy like baseballs.

The Braves (8-3) have a Mid-Southern Conference match Thursday at Pekin (Eastern) and then play in the Scott County Invite Friday and Saturday.

Walton said he had a lot of respect for Brownstown.

“They have a good team, a lot of talented players,” Walton said. “We tried our best out there today for sure.”

The Cougars (1-8) picked up their first win of the season, 3-2 over Milan in the Southern Indiana Tennis Conference Tournament Saturday at Hanover.

Walton said his players need to get stronger mentally, and finish their shots.

“On the mental part, they have a lot of slow starts,” he said. “It’s about getting that mental toughness going. You can’t let your opponent get a three or five-game lead on you without really evaluating what’s going on, and taking it a little slower.”