Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊThe Whitko tennis team knew it would have its hands full when it hosted Wawasee Tuesday night in South Whitley.
The Wildcats were right, as the Warriors picked up a 5-0 win to improve to 11-3 on the season.
"It's really important to understand the different levels of tennis," said Whitko coach Larry Schuh. "We are improving, but our program is not on the level of Wawasee. Many schools our size would have trouble with Wawasee.
"We measure our success within our conference and against other schools our size."
In the No. 1 singles match, Wawasee's Carly Murphy defeated Whitko's Brooke Workman 6-0, 6-2. Then at the No. 2 slot, Warrior sophomore Kendra Ganz topped Wildcat junior Emily Crist.
"Our one and two singles had their hands full," said Schuh. "They were playing against girls who have been coached since they were young."
After Wawasee's Krista VanLue won the first set over Tiffany Hatton, Hatton fought back in the second set. Hatton won three games in the third set, but VanLue came out on top with a 6-3 win.
The Warriors swept the doubles competition as well.
In the No. 1 spot, Ashley Ganz and Cara Windle allowed Brandy Bayles and Stephanie Haines to score just once in two sets. Ganz and Windle won the match 6-0, 6-1.
In the closest match of the night, Wawasee's Julia Hasse and Jessica Ploszek teamed up against Whitko's Amanda Busz and Kaitlin Kessie. The Wildcat duo took an early 1-0 lead in the first set, but Wawasee's pair fought back to win the set 6-4. In the second set, Ashley Ganz and Ploszek cruised to a 6-1 win.
"Our doubles teams were tight," said Schuh. "I don't think our girls played as well as they could have, but they are so much better this year than they were last year. We have really improved."
The win moves Wawasee's record to 11-3 on the season, while Whitko falls to 6-6. The Warriors hit the courts again Thursday against Manchester in the opening round of the sectional in Syracuse.
Whitko is in action tonight as the Wildcats host Wayne. Whitko faces Warsaw in the Wawasee Sectional Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
WAWASEE 5, WHITKO 0
Singles
No. 1 -ÊCarly Murphy (Wa) def. Brooke Workman 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 - Kendra Ganz (Wa) def. Emily Crist 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 -ÊKrista VanLue (Wa) def. Tiffany Hatton 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊAshley Ganz/Cara Windle (Wa) def. Brandy Bayles/Stephanie Haines 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 -ÊJulia Hasse/Jessica Ploszek (Wa) def. Amanda Busz/Kaitlin Kessie 6-4, 6-1
JV - Wawasee 4, Whitko 1
Singles
No. 1 -ÊAlison Kropf (Wa) def. Stephanie Boggs 8-4
No. 2 -ÊErin Windle (Wa) def. Danielle Murphy 8-2
No. 3 -ÊJaclyn Abrams (Wa) def. Jill Mulligan 8-2
Doubles
No. 1 -ÊAmy Taylor/Lindsay Ross (Wa) def. Halie Allen/Kendra Craycraft 8-1
No. 2 -ÊBrooke Weber/Holly Slater (Wh) def. Allison Thornburgh/Rachael Fleagle 8-1
