FORTVILLE — In a reversal of fortune, the Pendleton Heights tennis team avenged an earlier loss in the Madison County tournament with a 3-2 win against Lapel Monday, April 24, at Mt. Vernon High School.
Arabian No. 1 singles player senior Sam Hammel remained unbeaten on the season with a second win over Maddie Shannon, 6-1, 7-5, and Brielle Boynton and Claire Goodwin continued their solid play at the No 2 doubles slot, winning their third match in a row 6-0, 6-2 over Bulldogs Emily Eppert and Alyssa Whaley.
Lapel countered with wins at the No. 2 singles match as Lauren Benagh rolled past Bailey Davis 6-1, 6-2 and in the No. 1 doubles match, during which Emma Bush and Tonya Riffey held off Gabby Kramer and Susie Kramer in three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The No. 3 singles match ended up deciding the match and would go three sets. Gracie Criswell overcame losing the first set to hand Mackenzie Richards a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat, sending Pendleton Heights (5-4) on to the team win.
Pendleton Heights was set to travel to Eastern Hancock for a 5 p.m. start Wednesday, April 26.
In earlier action
With a pair of tough three-set losses at Hamilton Heights Saturday, April 22, the Pendleton Heights Arabians had to settle for a split of their team matches on the road this weekend.
On Friday, April 21, at Shelbyville, the Arabians improved to 2-1 in the conference with a 4-1 win against the Golden Bears.
Pendleton Heights swept the singles matches as Hammel rolled past Daniella Joseph 6-1, 6-2, Davis handled Elizabeth Finkel in the No. 2 match 6-4, 7-5, and Criswell cruised in the No. 3 matchup 6-2, 6-4 versus Corinna Jones.
The Arabians took one of two doubles matches as Boynton and Goodwin beat Addison Mummert and Alex Watson 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 2 match. The lone victory for Shelbyville came in the No. 1 doubles match win; Sam Watson and Alivia Chenoweth got by the Kramers in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Saturday at Hamilton Heights, the Arabians again split the doubles matches, but won just one of the singles matches and fell to the Huskies 3-2.
Hammel continued to roll along in the No. 1 spot. The senior improved to 8-0 this season with a 6-0, 6-0 whitewashing of Lauryn Martin. Boynton and Goodwin also picked up a second win of the weekend with a 6-0, 6-2 win in the No. 2 doubles match against Emily Peterson and Kinsey Dimmock.
Criswell moved up to the No. 2 singles spot for this match and, after winning the first set, fell in three sets to Anna Carl 6-4, 5-7, 2-6. The Kramer sisters also lost a three-setter for the second-straight day in the No. 1 doubles match, this time 4-6, 6-1, 3-6 to Kylie Rose and Emma Knowles.
Lauren Marsh played the No. 3 singles for the Arabians and lost to Kennedy Hunter by a 3-6, 5-7 score.
Vs. Shenandoah
Hammel remained unbeaten on the season as Pendleton Heights evened its record with a convincing 5-0 win against Shenandoah Wednesday, April 19.
Hammel raised her record to 6-0 as the No. 1 singles player for the Arabians with a 6-1, 6-3 win versus Alex Conaday. Criswell won her match against Josie Conaday by an identical 6-1, 6-3 score, while Davis completed the Arabian sweep of the singles matches with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Letha Wilson in the No. 2 match.
In doubles play, the Kramers had a battle on their hands in the No. 1 match, but prevailed against Morgan and Madison House 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2). Boynton and Goodwin rolled over Abby Carter and Carly Allen in the second match 6-0, 6-3.
Vs. New castle
On Tuesday, April 18, Pendleton Heights defeated New Castle 5-0.
