FORTVILLE — The final score might have been decisive on Thursday night, but Mt. Vernon tennis coach Gabe Muterspaugh’s gut screamed otherwise.
Pacing the court’s coaching pathway at Mt. Vernon High School in brisk, swift steps, Muterspaugh halted only in brief moments as four of his Marauders’ five sectional semifinal matches against rival Greenfield-Central showcased tiebreakers.
"My stomach hurts," Muterspaugh remarked. "I’m not good."
After both of Mt. Vernon’s doubles teams prevailed in second-set tiebreakers for match points, Muterspaugh’s pulse eased up.
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Senior Chris Hays’ first-set tiebreaker triumphant at No. 2 singles before his eventual two-set victory calmed the queasiness.
Mt. Vernon’s 4-1 win over Greenfield-Central during the tennis sectional semifinals was anything but mundane. It was draining.
Despite losing 3-2 to the Marauders in the regular season, the Greenfield-Central Cougars came out hungry, and they nearly pulled off the upset over the defending sectional champions.
"Calling grandma," Muterspaugh joshed in reference to his team’s mantra of calling their grandmas after a big win. "Grandma wasn’t getting a phone for a little while tonight. It was tight. That was a battle. An epic battle."
On the neighboring courts, the Eastern Hancock Royals knocked off Pendleton Heights 3-2 behind a sweep in singles play to advance into today’s sectional championship match at 4:30 p.m.
No. 1 singles player Kodey Huff won in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, followed by Zeke Dixon’s 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles and Nolan Stout’s 6-2-6-4 effort at three singles.
The Marauders needed more time, however, to vanquish the gritty Cougars.
"We definitely didn’t come out to the best of our ability, and Greenfield came out wanting to win for sure, but we didn’t let that happen," Mt. Vernon senior Haiden Rose said. "Last year, we showed out. This year, we want to be even better."
A year ago, the Marauders won their first sectional title since 2011. This season, the defending Hancock County champions set a new single-season record for wins with 18 entering the sectional semifinal and added to it with No. 19 to advance into today’s finals.
They are now one win away from their potential fifth sectional championship repeat run since 1979.
Greenfield-Central did everything possible to spoil the Marauders’ quest, though.
Robbie Dye challenged Hays 7-6 (2) in the first set before the Marauders senior finished strong 6-2 in the second set.
Corbin Tilley and Jack Weidner lost the first set 6-1 to Dallas Turner and Owen Koon at No. 1 doubles, but the Cougars charged back, forcing their opponents to survive a 7-6 (4) tiebreaker finale.
Mt. Vernon’s Logan LeRoy and Andrew Jones faced a similar task, winning the first set 6-2 prior to a 7-6 (8) nail-biting tiebreaker in the second.
Rose and Greenfield-Central’s Carson Gibson played tug-of-war at No. 1 singles. Rose won the first set 6-3, and Gibson responded with a 6-0 second. The third came down to a 7-6 (2) tiebreaker in Rose’s favor.
"You have a whole season where things speak for themselves here and there for us, and this was one of our best season records (at 12-6), no matter where we ended up today," Cougars head coach Michael Turpin said. "All of my guys have a significant amount of work they can be really proud of this year."
They proved it, even in defeat.
"The story of the day was three singles, Matt Hyre. He was down 1-5 in the second set after losing the first set 0-6," Turpin said. "I told him, ‘This isn’t you. You are not the type of person that gives up.’ All of a sudden he wins six in a row to take that set, and then goes and completely takes control of the third set."
Hyre secured the Cougars’ lone point 1-6, 7-5, 6-2. But, according to Muterspaugh, it could have easily gone 1-4 the other way.
"We came out on fire, then we took our foot off the pedal, and Greenfield revved up. They’re a heck of a team," Muterspaugh said. "Give Michael credit. They came ready to go, but at the same time, we have our band of brothers. Seven-seven, our seven seniors, and we got those big points to close it out."
The Marauders’ seven seniors rolled to an 18-0 record this season before falling just shy of a win against rival Delta, 3-2, on Tuesday to settle the Hoosier Heritage Conference title.
The loss was a wake-up call, and the Marauders answered two days later.
"That Delta match on Tuesday showed how close we are. We were right there with a team that was No. 15 in the state. We’re right there. It just built confidence for us that we can play with anybody," Muterspaugh said. "Our guys were ready to go, and they didn’t quit."
Eastern Hancock could pose a difficult out for the Marauders.
At county last month, the Royals placed fourth as a team, but Huff beat Rose for third place at one singles, and the team is surging at the right time.
Eastern Hancock finished second in the Mid-Eastern Conference and put together five straight wins before losing to rival Knightstown, 3-2, last week on Thursday. The Royals placed third at their own invitational last weekend to conclude the regular season. They are 10-4 overall.
The Marauders aren’t overlooking the Royals, Rose emphasized, especially after their all-out grind against Greenfield-Central.
"It’s survive and advance at this point, always, and we don’t care how you get it done," Muterspaugh said. "We’re right there. It’s where we want to be.
"I talked to the guys tonight, and I said, ‘You got to come in here (Friday) and remember these guys are gunning for you just the same. We can’t come out light. Last thing you want to happen is you come out and there’s a hiccup. Then, everything you worked for doesn’t come to fruition."
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Mt. Vernon Tennis Sectional
Semifinal Results
Mt. Vernon 4, Greenfield-Central 1
No. 1 Singles: Haiden Rose, MV def. Carson Gibson, GC 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (2)
No. 2 Singles: Chris Hays, MV def. Robbie Dye, GC 7-6 (2), 6-2
No. 3 Singles: Matt Hyre, GC def. Joe Bowsher, MV 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
No. 1 Doubles: Dallas Turner/Owen Koon, MV def. Corbin Tilley/Jack Weidner, GC 6-1, 7-6 (4)
No. 2 Doubles: Logan LeRoy/Andrew Jones, MV def. Garrett Neumeister/Nick Grandstaff, GC 6-2, 7-6 (8)
Eastern Hancock 3, Pendleton Heights 2
No. 1 Singles: Kodey Huff, EH def. Sam Bowers, PH 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Singles: Zeke Dixon, EH def. Parker Hammons, PH 7-5, 6-2
No. 3 Singles: Nolan Stout, EH def. Ryland Mills, PH 6-2, 6-4
No. 1 Doubles: Blake Stoker/Logan Jones, PH def. Bryce Wennen/Wyatt Sutton, EH 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Doubles: Cole Bubenzer/Make Nielsen, PH def. Nate Cape/Peyton Stephens, EH 7-6 (4), 6-4
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