SEYMOUR — Without Megna Chari in the No. 1 singles spot due to illness, Columbus East had to bump up each of its singles players a spot at Seymour on Thursday.
Despite three close matches, the Olympians couldn’t muster a win in a 5-0 loss to the Owls.
At No. 1 singles, Adycin Rager came out strong for the Olympians by taking the first set, 6-4. However, after a change in apparel, Seymour’s Emma Wood kicked into gear to take the next two sets 6-0, 6-0.
“It seemed like Emma, once she switched her shoes after the first set, became a new player,” East coach Matt Malinsky said. “She plays at Tipton (Lakes Athletic Club), and I know her pretty well. It was a great effort by Adycin to win the first set. After that first set, Emma caught on fire and was hitting good cross-court shots before closing in on the net.”
In the No. 2 singles spot, the Owls’ Hallie Crenshaw defeated Alaysha Pollert, 6-2, 6-1.
The longest match of the day was at No. 3 singles, between the Owls’ Megan Baurle and East’s Lauren Graham. Baurle won a marathon first set in a tiebreaker at 7-6 (4) before taking the second, 6-4.
“It was a really nice effort by Lauren,” Malinsky said. “She has steadily gotten better as this year has gone on. I know Megan from Tipton Lakes also, and it was a good effort to force a tiebreaker and then fight in the second set.”
Down 4-3 in the first set, Seymour’s No. 1 doubles team of Lindsey Hume and Addie Rudge stormed back to take the opening 6-4 over East’s Kendall Gerken and Carolyn Travis. The second set was equally close, but the Owls held on to a 4-3 lead and prevailed 6-4.
Kelli Armes and Katie O’Mara secured the No. 2 doubles win for the Owls, topping the Olympians’ Paige Webb and Esta Morrision 6-2, 6-2.
The Olympians (1-2) could see Seymour (3-0) again later in the season at the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament.
“We might see them a little bit later,” Malinsky said. “Hopefully we will be at full strength by then and give another crack at it.”
