When most people think of number three singles, they think it’s more of a slow, back-and-forth match that takes awhile to finish up.
But for Seymour tennis player Kirby Hill, she has been proving those assumptions wrong the past couple of weeks.
That continued Tuesday night for Hill when she won 6-0, 6-1 in her match against Southwestern (Hanover) in the first round of regional.
“What I’m doing differently is hitting the ball aggressively, and girls at three singles are not ready for it,” Hill said. “It takes them off balance, and it makes me win matches faster.”
Hill was the first one off of the court for the Owls at Bloomington High School South on Tuesday, quickly followed by the two doubles team of Madalyn Baurle and Elise Hartung, who won their match 6-0, 6-2.
From there, Sandy Cerino won at two singles to clinch the match for Seymour. The Owls defeated Southwestern (Hanover) 5-0 to advance to the regional finals tonight.
Cerino won 6-3, 6-1, Brooke Schafstall won 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 at one singles and the one doubles team of Mallory Moore and Avery Ragon won 6-3, 6-3.
“I feel like we were just communicating and our serves were really good today,” Baurle said of her two doubles match. “We’re just keeping our spirits up, and that really helps.”
Seymour, the 29th-ranked team in the state, will take on Columbus North, the fifth-ranked team in the state, tonight at Bloomington South in the regional championship.
The Owls played North once this season and lost 4-1. Baurle and Hartung were the victors, winning their match at two doubles 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 10-8.
“We just depend on each and our teammates who cheer us on,” Baurle said Tuesday. “Just gotta keep moving our feet and just stay positive.”
Seymour almost got a second point against North at three singles, where Valeria Ramirez barely lost 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 8-10. Hill will be playing three singles for the Owls this time around.
“It has been so fun,” Hill said after her match Tuesday. “I’ve finally got my swing good, and I’m having a great senior season.”
Two years ago, Seymour reached the regional championship match and fell to Columbus North.
The two will meet again today, and the Owls have a lot of momentum on their side heading into it.
“It has been amazing, and I love my team so much,” Baurle said of the Owls’ recent run the last two weeks, winning conference and sectional.
“We’re playing North, which is scary, but we’re a good team, too, so we should own it,” Hill said.