CULVER — The Warsaw girls tennis team got as far as it could Wednesday. All season, Warsaw coach Rick Orban has been shuffling his lineup, but against host Culver Girls Academy, the talent level was too much in a 4-1 regional final loss. Following the match, both teams had 11-7 records, but CGA will continue its season Saturday at the LaPorte Semistate against No. 4 Penn. Even in defeat, Orban was proud of what his inexperienced squad did this season, which included a 12th-straight sectional title. “I just can’t say enough about this team this year,” Orban said. “With the exception of Sarah Hartle, Lindsay (Sciarra), and Olivia (Wallin) — who played a few varsity matches last year — (the team members) didn’t play varsity last year. They went against an extremely good team tonight. Culver’s got a really good team.” CGA’s squad came out like gangbusters, as it won the first set on three separate courts by 6-1 scores. At No. 2 singles, CGA sophomore Natalia Lopez-Yanez swiftly defeated Warsaw sophomore Jacqueline Sasso 6-1, 6-0, while the No. 2 doubles team of freshman Rachel Simon and sophomore Carlota Silva beat Warsaw sophomores Abbi Baum and Taylor Moore 6-1, 6-1. The Lady Tigers did get some life from its No. 1 doubles team of juniors Lindsay Sciarra and Olivia Wallin, who blitzed CGA junior Myriam Navarro and Maria Solis by a 6-0, 6-2 count. However, the Warsaw win at No. 1 doubles seemed just a hiccup, as sophomore Sarah Boyle was down 5-0 in her second set after losing the first 6-1. But just when it looked like CGA was about to wrap up the third point needed to get the team win, Boyle won the next six games to take a 6-5 lead in the second set. “What Sarah Boyle did, that was amazing, because (senior Sarah) Hartle was still going (at No. 1 singles) and it was close,” Orban said. “All of a sudden, the party atmosphere was over. You have to love that. That’s the determination, guts and courage these kids showed on the courts.” But just as Boyle regained control, Hartle lost her second set 6-3 to junior Sonia Shen, delivering CGA its first regional title since 2007 and its fourth overall. Hartle’s loss appeared to drain Boyle a little bit, as she then lost the set 7-6 following a 7-1 tiebreaker. “I never got comfortable — not against a team like Warsaw,” CGA coach Steve Walton said. “They’re disciplined, they’re well-coached. You know going in it’s never going to be easy.” One court Walton knew wasn’t going to be easy was No. 1 singles. After falling behind 3-0 in the opening set, Hartle battled back against Shen, but eventually fell 6-4. She then held a 2-1 lead in the second set, but a foot injury she’s been dealing with all season appeared to play a role, as she lost five of the next six games. “It was huge, and to be playing two nights in a row like that, we tried to stay away from that all season,” Orban said about Hartle’s foot injury. “Sonia is a very good player, so she can move Sarah around a lot. (The foot) was definitely a factor tonight.” Shen did keep Hartle on the move, but also placed some balls in areas not many players have been able to against Warsaw’s lone senior. “She was able to keep playing her game,” Walton said about Shen. “She kept driving the ball deep, kept a real good pace on the ball and dictated those points a little bit. Sarah’s very, very good at keeping that ball in play and keeping that point alive. So, Sonia worked really hard to try to move her a little bit.” Through her four-year varsity career, Hartle hasn’t overpowered many, but did go 40-0 in Northern Lakes Conference play and became a favorite of Orban’s. “You get kids and they graduate year after year, but Sarah’s special,” he said. “She never gives up. She’s extremely positive. She’s a team leader. She’s so focused, so driven and she’s a flat-out great kid. How do you replace that?” He’ll have to try to do that next year, as he returns everyone but Hartle. “Boy, am I looking forward to next year with these kids,”said Orban.
