JASPER — Most people are familiar with the proverb, “It’s better to give than to receive.”
Columbus North’s No. 2 doubles freshman Tiffany Fu celebrated her 15th birthday Saturday, and she was the one that ended up giving her teammates the ultimate gift.
Fu and doubles partner Servane Cloteaux clinched the co-No. 8-ranked Bull Dogs’ spot in the Girls Tennis State Finals by giving them the decisive third point against No. 6 Evansville Memorial. North ended up winning 3-2 to return to state as a team for the first time since 2016.
“It’s nice playing doubles because you have someone there supporting you,” Fu said. “I didn’t think about what was going to happen next. It was about just playing the point and winning the point and hopefully, win the match as a result.”
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The Bull Dogs (22-4) will square off against third-ranked Carmel in the state quarterfinals at 3 p.m. Friday at Carmel.
“I’m really excited because this is my first year going to state because my freshman year, I didn’t get varsity,” said Cloteaux, a senior. “Now, I finally get to experience what it’ll be like.”
Cloteaux and Fu won 6-3, 6-1 against Memorial’s Olivia Schitter and Tatum Tornatta to put the Bull Dogs over the edge.
Coming in, it was almost a certainty the Bull Dogs would grab points in the No. 2 and No. 3 singles positions, but the other three spots — including No. 2 doubles — were nearly a tossup.
“It started out a little slow, but I think they got a couple games against (Memorial) that gave them some confidence,” North coach Kendal Hammel said of his No. 2 doubles team. “Once they got the first set under their belt, they really relaxed and really stepped forward in the second set. They did what they needed to do.”
North got on the board first when Shweta Srinivasan topped Evansville’s Summer McIntyre 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
This is the second appearance for Srinivasan, a senior, in the state finals. She played No. 2 doubles when the team was a finalist in 2016.
“I’m just really happy and excited that I get to start and finish my high school tennis career with a ticket to state,” Srinivasan said.
The Tigers tied it a 1-1 when Abby Myers and Margo Throop defeated the Bull Dogs’ Ali Bergman and Jaline Tay 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. North broke the tie just a few minutes later when Eva Chevalier finished off Elayna Zausch 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
Chevalier also makes a second consecutive state appearance after being a state semifinalist in the individual doubles tournament last year with partner Madelyn Sanders. Chevalier is glad to the team will be joining her this time.
“It’s pretty amazing. I get along my whole entire team, so going to state with my team is a dream come true,” Chevalier said. “Everyone played amazing because with the heat, it was awful, but everyone played their best and they fought, and we just had an amazing day today.”
That set the stage for Fu and Cloteaux to punch the Bull Dogs ticket to state.
The last match concluded came at No. 1 singles, where North’s Ashlie Wilson fell to Memorial’s Ellie Myers 6-3, 6-3.
“We were confident in No. 2 and 3 singles and had to win at one of the other three spots,” Hammel said. “No. 1 doubles didn’t play their best, but that’s OK, because now they will play again next weekend. Ashlie was in the same situation. I know she feels like she could have played a lot better, and she could. The good thing is, she gets to play again next weekend. Overall, teamwise, it’s a good win for the entire team.”
North and Carmel played a regular-season match on May 7, with the Greyhounds winning 3-2. The Bull Dogs won at the No. 1 singles and the No. 2 doubles positions.
“We got beat pretty solid in three positions, and we won the other two positions both in three sets,” Hammel said. “It’s at Carmel and we’re against Carmel, so they have the advantages. We got here, so we’ll see what happens.”
