DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR-Kyle Arnold’s first match in charge of the Bellmont girls’ tennis program was a successful one as the Braves started the season Thursday with a 5-0 sweep of Jay County.
Still working on getting his lineup ready, Arnold is not yet at his full complement of players as the Spring Break holiday kept some girls from getting a full ten practices in before the inaugural match of the season.
The biggest change to the lineup for the opener was a switch for Emy Faurote from singles to doubles as the senior left her traditional No. 2 spot and filled in at doubles with Isabelle Ortiz. Arnold hopes to have Marisol Jackson in that spot next week when the Braves host Bishop Dwenger.
Olivia Selking used a strong return game and accurate hitting to win over Brenna Haines at No. 1 singles.
Sisters Leila and Lillian Jin won the other singles matches, dropping just one game per set on the two end courts opposite Selking.
Faurote and Ortiz had the toughest match of the night, but they showed their experience by winning tiebreaks at the end of the first and second set for the victory.
Varsity
Singles
No. 1-Olivia Selking (B) d. Brenna Haines, 6-1, 6-3
No. 2-Leila Jin (B) d. Brenna Bailey, 6-1, 6-1
No. 3-Lillian Jin (B) d. Maggie Dillon, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1-Emy Faurote/Isabelle Ortiz (B) d. Kaylee Zimmerman/Melana Zimmerman, 7-6(10-8), 7-6(7-3)
No. 2-Kaelyn Snyder/Alyssa Coffey (B) d. Meredith Dirksen/Sophie Sprunger, 7-5, 6-3
Junior Varsity
Emma Fuelling (B) d. Kenzie Tobe, 8-0
Chloe Ruiz/Zim Beiswanger (JC) d. Lucie McIntire/Vanessa Hebble, 8-7(8-6)
Regan Knous/Sydnee Farmer (B) d. Faith Faulkner/Lily Johnson, 8-3
