Published: April 30, 2008 02:55 pm            

Lady Eagle tennis perfect at Zionsville Invitational

The No. 9 Zionsville girls tennis team should skyrocket up the polls when this week’s rankings are released. They hosted three ranked teams, coming out on top against each opponent at the Saturday, April 26, Zionsville Invitational.

A talented No. 28 Floyd Central team ran into a brick wall in the opening match, as the Lady Eagles (12-1, 8-0 in conference) picked up the 4-1 victory.

In No. 1 singles, senior Danielle Hansen defeated Kelsey Wisman 6-2, 6-0. In No. 2 singles, senior Margo Harrington defeated Chelsea Burch 6-1, 6-0. Then in the No. 3 singles match, junior Lauren Formulak took down Sandra McCaffrey 6-1, 6-0.

Senior Katie Thompson and sophomore Claire Mattison took on a tough No. 1 doubles team in Jessica VanWinkle and Alyssa Botkins, falling 3-6, 4-6. The No. 2 Zionsville doubles team of junior Eileen Dinnin and junior Lauren Dunn flexed its muscles, beating Emma La Duke and Kayla Prusinski 6-2, 6-2.

The tourney really heated up for the Lady Eagles in the second match against sixth-ranked Brebeuf Preparatory, but Zionsville took down the Lady Braves 4-1.

Brebeuf’s No. 1 singles player in Gabrille Rubenstein tried setting the tone for her team, taking down Hansen 6-3, 6-2.

Zionsville maintained control from that point, starting with Harrington’s No. 2 singles win over Anna Barnard, 6-2, 6-4. In No. 3 singles, Formulak crushed Hillary Sollenberger 6-0, 6-0.

The No. 1 doubles team of Thompson and Mattison rebounded from their morning loss with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Hillary Egan and Heather Hourigan. Thompson and Mattison have spent the whole season thus far competing in the No. 2 doubles slot, but were hardly affected by the step up.

This match’s No. 2 doubles team of Dinnin and Dunn picked up a 6-4, 6-2 win over Christine Garry and Kelly Csiszar.

The hardest match of the day came against fifth-ranked Center Grove, but the Lady Eagles pulled out the 3-2 win.

Hansen, who faced quality opponents all day in the No. 1 singles spot, fell to Becca Porter 6-2, 6-4. Harrington also lost (just her second individual loss of the season) to Katie Wyman 7-4, 1-6, 10-8.

“The battle of the day went to Margo Harrington,” Zionsville Head Coach Pat Slama said. “After losing her first set, she came back strong to win her second (set) 6-1. Going into a super tie-breaker and many deuce points, Margo fell short of the victory but showed what she was made of.”

The Lady Eagles’ depth came into play for the win, however, and Formulak went to work on Alicia Smith 6-1, 6-1.

Dinnin and freshman Lindsey Hansen re-entered the No. 1 doubles position for the final match of the day, beating Jamie Claeys and Diane Jones 6-2, 6-4. Thompson and Mattison returned to the familiar No. 2 doubles match, and breezed past Sarah Conlin and Sarah Richert 6-2, 6-1.

Zionsville’s junior varsity team fell to Floyd Central 6-4, beat Brebeuf 6-3, and beat Center Grove 9-2.

        

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