The Seymour tennis team got off to a fast start by beating Brownstown Central in the first set at all five positions and swept the Braves 5-0 at home Thursday afternoon.

Seymour’s Ava Sunbury defeated Jenna Bolte 6-1, 6-2 at No.1 singles, and Elise Hartung was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Brynn Burton at No. 2 singles.

Seymour’s Claire Combs defeated Avery Harrison 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

No. 1 doubles was the most competitive match of the day as Seymour’s Tori Fee and Addison Hunsley needed a super tie-breaker to win over Kaitlyn Williams and Bella Brown. Fee and Hunsley won 6-2, before Brown and Williams bounced back to win 6-2. Fee and Hunsley won the tie breaker 10-8.

Kelsea Hunsley and Emma Woodard topped Audrey Scarlett and Genna Preston 6-1, 6-3 at No. 2 doubles.

Both Fee and Bolte said they began playing tennis in middle school as Fee began playing in sixth grade and Bolte in eighth grade.

Fee said, “I’ve always played doubles. I really just enjoy talking with someone throughout the whole match. I played with Emma Woodard earlier this year and we would talk the entire game. That’s my favorite part about it.”

She said getting off to a good start is key.

“It is really important. It keeps your momentum going. We had a tough time with that second set, but we felt good going in. I think winning that first set was really the key to the tiebreaker.

Fee said she has confidence in her serving and play at the net and listed those as her strengths.

She said with her height she can reach out and return backhands. “It’s a good advantage,” she said.

“I love the home matches. I love seeing everybody come out. Even people that are kind of friends of the team they come out eventually and it’s so much fun just to see everybody, especially with matches against Brownstown where I know people on both sides.”

She said she feels like the team needs to play more consistent.

“I think we need to be more consistent. I felt like our first set was really good, then it got a little rocky in the second set, then we won the tiebreaker. I think if we work on consistently we’ll have a good season.

“I very much enjoy being a student here (at SHS).”

Bolte had been playing No. 1 singles all spring and said she likes that position.

“Last year I started at No. 2 doubles and then I moved to No. 3 singles. I started liking singles a lot more. I like to have control of the court and be out there by myself.

“My serves have been pretty good. I feel like I’ve been doing a fairly good job of predicting where the ball is going. I feel like anticipation is a big deal in singles, so I feel like I’ve really grown in that area this year.”

Bolte said she has gotten used to playing the No. 1 player from the opposing school and knows she has to be at her best to have a chance to win.

“I see a lot of good girls out there, a lot of good tennis players. I have found that it is extremely important to start off on the right foot. It’s been a little rough starting, just getting the nerves out. Starting out and showing the other girls what you can do is very important. And just getting in your head too that you are going to be able to finish this match out.

“I’m sad for it to be my last year but have really liked it this year. It has been a lot of fun. I have a lot of good friends on the team, too.”

The Owls are 4-1 and have a rescheduled home match against Jeffersonville today and the Braves are 0-2 and have a scheduled match at home against Salem today.

Seymour 5, Brownstown Central 0

No. 1 singles-Ava Sunbury (S) def. Jenna Bolte 6-1, 6-2

No. 2 singles- Elise Hartung (S) def. Brynn Burton 6-2, 6-1

No. 2 singles- Claire Combs (S) def. Avery Harrison 6-2, 6-1

No. 1 doubles- Tori Fee-Addison Hunsley (S) def. Kaitlyn Williams-Bella Brown 6-2, 2-6, 10-8

No. 2 doubles-Kelsea Hunsley-Emma Woodard (S) def. Audrey Scarlett-Genna Preston 6-`1, 6-3

Junior varsity winners:

Singles- Seymour: Macy Pifer, Rose Kruse

Doubles- Brownstown: Maddie Singleton-Eula Beavers, Gracie Fisher-Maggie Banister