DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
UNIONDALE – Bellmont advanced to the sectional semifinal Wednesday to take on Adams Central with a 5-0 sweep of Bluffton, although it was closer than the scoreline may indicate as the postseason for Indiana High School sports got underway in earnest across the state Tuesday.
“Leila (at No. 3 singles) and Kaelyn and Alyssa (at No. 2 Doubles) needed all three sets to advance,” noted head coach Kyle Arnold after his team advanced. “We swept them last week, too, but we needed those extra sets to replicate that.”
Arnold said he had to give props to Bluffton before looking ahead to Adams Central.
“They played hard and made our girls fight for every point,” he said.
The Braves secured advancement with quick victories at the top two singles spots by seniors Liv Selking and Emy Faurote.
The top Braves duo of Isabelle Ortiz and Marisol Jackson had no issue with their Bluffton opponents, winning love-love.
“Even with the team result already finalized,” said Arnold. “I was proud of my girls’ efforts to adjust heading into those third sets and to push for the win. That kind of effort will be needed in the next round against Adams Central.”
Play begins Wednesday night at 4:30 p.m. at Norwell.
Bellmont 5 Bluffton 0
No. 1-Olivia Selking (Be) d. Emma Schwartz, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2-Emy Faurote (Be) d. Gretchen Crist, 6-0, 6-1
No. 3-Leila Jin (Be) d. Hazel Pfister, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 1-Isabelle Ortiz/Marisol Jackson (Be) d. Alexis Grover/Eva Corkwell, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2-Alyssa Coffey/Kaelyn Snyder (Be) d. Avery Hunt/Kinzie Fiechter, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1