After making a run to the Doubles State Finals title match last season, Kathryn Hodzen was hoping she and Megna Chari could contend for the championship this year.
A nagging calf injury to Chari, however, has left the senior playing No. 2 singles and elevated Hodzen to the No. 1 singles spot to begin her junior season. That’s likely where she’ll be today when the Olympians visit 12th-ranked Columbus North.
"I think we were both hoping to go back to state," Hodzen said. "It was kind of a bittersweet moment because I think she really deserves this spot. But she’s not fully healthy right now, so it’s not really a surprise to me."
Last year, Hozden and Chari split time between singles and doubles during the regular season. In about half of the matches, Chari played No. 1 singles, and Hodzen was at No. 2 singles. Then in the postseason, they teamed together at No. 1 doubles.
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"I definitely didn’t expect to be playing 1 singles this year," Hodzen said. "This is the first time playing 1, and that’s where most of the better players are, so it was really nerve-racking to know I’d be playing the best players."
So far, Hodzen’s 2-1 record mirrors that of the East team. Hozden and the Olympians posted wins against Edinburgh, losses to Bloomington North and wins against Brown County.
"Against Edinburgh, I think I played pretty decent," Hodzen said. "I was expecting this (Bloomington North) match to be a little tougher, and it was because she’s a really experienced player. I let my nerves get the best of me."
East coach Matt Malinsky said Hodzen is a very good doubles player, so they’re trying to work on some things that can translate to singles.
"She’s been working a lot with her singles game," Malinsky said. "It’s a big transition for anybody who’s playing a little bit more outside of their comfort zone. She’s comfortable with singles, but obviously, I think her first choice would probably be doubles. But she’s taking her leadership role well, and I think she’s working really hard and she’s getting better at those things every day."
Hodzen, Malinsky and the rest of the Olympians are focusing on winning the Hoosier Hills Conference title this season. They won the HHC title Hodzen’s freshman year and were runner-up last season.
If Chari can stay healthy, she and Hodzen are capable of winning their positions against other conference teams, which would leave East needing to win only one of the other three matches to claim a team victory.
"It took a great physical toll last year with the extra match play, and that run that they made," Malinsky said. "Megna was actually hurt going into the state week last year, but she fought through it, and I think overuse is what’s made her recovery so long and arduous. So I think we just kind of figured even if they were able to make it through again, there’s a good chance that we’d exacerbate her condition. So we just decided we wanted to do as best we could as a team and get as many wins as we can and hopefully get one more conference before Megna’s graduation."
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Columbus East at Columbus North girls tennis
When: 4:30 p.m. today
Where: Columbus North High School
Admission: Free
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