FORTVILLE — It isn’t easy, but Mt. Vernon made it look that way.
For the 10th straight time, the Marauders girls tennis team won a sectional title.
On their home courts Thursday, the Marauders — ranked No. 18 in the state — defeated previously unbeaten Eastern Hancock in dominant fashion, 5-0, in the Mt. Vernon Sectional championship.
“It’s hard to win one, much less when you’re talking two four-year cycles of girls and then adding half of that,” Mt. Vernon girls tennis coach Gabe Muterspaugh. “It’s a testament to our girls, coaches, managers, parents, and what we’ve built here. Everybody buys in and it’s a really big accomplishment for our program.”
All five wins came in straight sets. Mt. Vernon lost just eight games.
The No. 1 doubles team of Kylie Brandes and Ava Lusby was first to leave the court. They defeated Mikayla Hardy and Savanah Hardin 6-1, 6-1. The Brandes-Lusby combo is 21-0 on the season.
Caroline Allen, Mt. Vernon’s No. 1 singles player, was next to exit. She defeated Eastern’s Lexi Swauger 6-1, 6-1. The team win became official when MV’s No. 2 singles player, Ginni Morelli, grabbed the team’s third win, a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Lexie Fletcher.
Mt. Vernon’s No. 2 doubles team of Sophia Maxwell and Addi Lockwood was the first to win a set, but after opening with a 6-0 victory over Sarah Clark and Tori Parker, the Royals combo made it closer in the second. Clark and Parker led 3-2 before Maxwell and Lockwood won the final four games for a 6-3 victory.
“It feels really good to win another one and keep the tradition going,” Lockwood said.
The final match to finish off the sweep came at No. 3 singles. Maria Downs defeated Sophie Hardin 6-0, 6-0.
“I’m just grateful to be a part of this team,” Downs said. “It’s a special team. Every girl here, and the coaches, it’s an honor to play for these people. Every girl that’s come through here has worked hard to keep that tradition.”
Mt. Vernon improved to 12-3 in duals, with the three losses coming to other ranked opponents. It was the first loss of the season for Eastern Hancock. The Royals finish the year 8-1.
Eastern Hancock won the Mid-Eastern Conference tournament, the Eastern Hancock Invitational and finished third in the county tournament behind Mt. Vernon and New Palestine. They beat one of the county’s larger schools, Greenfield-Central, to get to Thursday’s championship match, as well as in the county tournament.
Mt. Vernon won 5-0 and in straight sets in both sectional tournament victories, which included a sweep over New Palestine Wednesday. It was the second time the Marauders had cruised through county opponents. They won the Hancock County Tournament with tournament titles in all five flights.
“I think our team came out (for the sectional) with a winning mindset,” Lockwood said. “We played like we weren’t the favorites and had chances to lose, even though we knew we were going to dominate and we made sure that we did that.”
Mt. Vernon moves on to the Mt. Vernon Regional, beginning Tuesday. The Marauders will play the winner of the Richmond Sectional. Seton Catholic, Northeastern, Centerville and Hagerstown were scheduled to play semifinal matches Thursday with the final slated for Friday.
