FORTVILLE — Winning eight straight sectional titles and 12 consecutive Hancock County championships, Mt. Vernon’s girls’ tennis program has had a good stretch of replacing graduated talent with players able to continue the team’s long period of success.
With graduation of six varsity veterans, they’ll have to do it again to win Nos. 9 and 13.
The good news is all-state No. 1 singles player Kylie Brandes returns, so one of three points needed to secure a team victory should be locked in on most occasions.
Brandes, only a sophomore, will lead a group made up primarily of newcomers.
She went 20-3 as a freshman No. 1 singles player and was selected second team all-state by the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTECA). It was the first time in program history a freshman has been named first or second team all-state.
Brandes won the Hancock County tournament and Mt. Vernon Invitational individual titles.
We have just one freshman (now a sophomore) back, but it’s a good one to have back,” Mt. Vernon coach Gabe Muterspaugh said. “She’ll man the No. 1 singles again. She’s hitting the ball well and is going to have a great season again. We expect that.”
Singles players Carly Wilkerson and Anna Hawks and the doubles teams of Olivia Lugo-Cece Bulmahn and Shay Shipley-Madison Swingle have graduated. They made up six of the seven spots on last year’s sectional championship team that finished the season with a 16-7 record.
Only Addy Lockwood, who played some varsity doubles last year, returns with any varsity experience.
The rest of the varsity lineup will be brand new.
Junior Ava Lusby played No. 1 singles at the junior varsity level last season. She’s got the upper hand on playing No. 2 singles.
Maria Downs, a junior, and Regan Ralstin, a sophomore, are battling out for the No. 3 singles spot.
“All of our girls have played year-round, so that helps,” Muterspaugh said. “I know a lot of teams are thinking Mt. Vernon is going to have to rebuild and start from scratch, but we like to call it reloading around our place.”
Sophomores Kimberly Joubert and Carmen Lugo are currently the No. 1 doubles team. Lockwood and Sophie Maxwell, both juniors, are at the No. 2 doubles slot.
“Five out of the seven (positions) have not played varsity before, but they have all been playing a lot in the offseason. We’ve seen huge improvements,” Muterspaugh added. “It’s exciting. It’s different (having a large group of young players). The biggest thing is, we will be a different team from the beginning of our season to the end.
“We are going to see a lot of growth, but our goals stay the same, win the county, win the sectional, have the best record we possibly can, and get after it.”
Muterspaugh said he has beefed up the schedule some this season with the addition of Whiteland, in the Center Grove tournament, and have added Noblesville as a full-time opponent.
“It’s going to be more challenging and I think playing better competition is going to be good for us by the end of the year,” the coach said.
The Marauders open the season Thursday with a Hoosier Heritage Conference match at Pendleton Heights.
“I think we’ll surprise a lot of teams that thought we’d be really down,” Muterspaugh said.
2023 Mt. Vernon Girls Tennis Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
April 6;at Pendleton Heights;4:30 p.m.
April 7;at Whiteland;5:30 p.m.
April 8;at Center Grove Invitational;12 p.m.
April 12;vs. Shenandoah;5 p.m.
April 13;vs. Shelbyville;5 p.m.
April 15;Mt. Vernon Invitational;9 a.m.
April 19;vs. Delta;5 p.m.
April 20;vs. Greenfield-Central;5:30 p.m.
April 21;Hancock County Tourney (MV);5 p.m.
April 27;vs. Yorktown;5 p.m.
April 28;at Centerville;5 p.m.
May 2;at Noblesville;6 p.m.
May 3; at Eastern Hancock;4:30 p.m.
May 8;vs. New Palestine;4:30 p.m.
May 10;vs. New Castle;4:30 p.m
