Pendleton Heights' Graham McMullen returns a volley to Anderson's Brett Ellis during sectional championship action at Highland Junior High School on Saturday.
October 1, 2011
Anderson pounds Pendleton Heights 4-1 in sectional final
Anderson boys tennis coach Jim Hostetler refused to breathe easy.
The Anderson Indians had already won both doubles matches against Pendleton Heights and were one point away from securing back-to-back sectional titles.
But the third point still had to be won.
A few minutes later, AHS’ Rishi Patel put the lid on a 6-3, 6-2 win over Brandon Hart at No. 2 singles, and the Indians could begin to relax with two matches still on the court.
“In a sectional, it’s always nice to get the third point. That way you know you’re OK. You’ve got that third point, and you can breathe a little easier,” Hostetler said. “There are still two matches out, but those are icing on the cake.”
Anderson recorded a 4-1 win over the Arabians and punched its ticket to the Marion Regional.
Anderson (19-4) will face Northeastern on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Before the match, the message to the Indians’ players from the coaches was simple: Play your game the way you’ve been playing it all year.
“I told the guys, ‘You just have to play like you have been the last couple weeks.’ Nothing fancy, just play your solid game,” Hostetler said. “The last three or four weeks, we’ve been playing very well.”
A windy day made things interesting depending on what side of the net the competitors were playing on.
Facing north, the wind was at a player’s back and the ball could sail a few extra feet. Facing south, a good gust could take some speed off the ball or cause a return to fall short of where the opponent thought it would land.
“If you can use the wind, it’s your ally,” Hostetler said. “Too many kids go out there and complain about the wind. If you use it, it makes you twice the player.”
Examples of players using the wind to their advantage came from: Patel getting a drop shot to land gently over the net while facing the wind. Bobby Moran hitting a low liner that found the space between Sam Dixon and Connor Wilson in the No. 1 doubles match.
Anderson’s No. 2 doubles tandem of Evan Dorff and Brady Reed downed Pendleton Heights’ Zack Wright and Ben Ausburger 6-3, 6-3 for the Tribe’s first point. Before they could get a postmatch drink of water, the No. 1 doubles match ended with Drew Hueston and Moran picking up a 6-4, 6-1 win over Dixon and Wilson.
“My doubles teams have been very consistent, and they want to set the tone for us,” Hostetler said. “They’ve been very strong. Getting the first two points for us gave us the motivation to finish it off.”
Brady Colip downed Evan Hart at No. 3 singles for Anderson’s fourth point after a 6-3, 6-3 win.
Then all eyes turned to the conclusion of the No. 1 singles match between Anderson’s Brett Ellis and Pendleton Heights’ Graham McMullen.
McMullen came away with a 6-1, 6-2 win in a match highlighted by long rallies and exuberant yells. Following the completion of the match, instead of the postgame handshake at the net, Ellis leapt over the net to the other side to shake hands with McMullen and then embraced his friend and competitor.
“That was just two good friends going at each other. They are good friends, they know each other’s games,” Hostetler said. “Brett played well. He made Graham earn this match.”
“They’re all good friends, good players,” PH head coach Royce Hammel said. “(Anderson’s) a good team, they’re well coached. It’s going to be a tough regional, but I think they’ll represent our area well.”
The Anderson Indians had already won both doubles matches against Pendleton Heights and were one point away from securing back-to-back sectional titles.
But the third point still had to be won.
A few minutes later, AHS’ Rishi Patel put the lid on a 6-3, 6-2 win over Brandon Hart at No. 2 singles, and the Indians could begin to relax with two matches still on the court.
“In a sectional, it’s always nice to get the third point. That way you know you’re OK. You’ve got that third point, and you can breathe a little easier,” Hostetler said. “There are still two matches out, but those are icing on the cake.”
Anderson recorded a 4-1 win over the Arabians and punched its ticket to the Marion Regional.
Anderson (19-4) will face Northeastern on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Before the match, the message to the Indians’ players from the coaches was simple: Play your game the way you’ve been playing it all year.
“I told the guys, ‘You just have to play like you have been the last couple weeks.’ Nothing fancy, just play your solid game,” Hostetler said. “The last three or four weeks, we’ve been playing very well.”
A windy day made things interesting depending on what side of the net the competitors were playing on.
Facing north, the wind was at a player’s back and the ball could sail a few extra feet. Facing south, a good gust could take some speed off the ball or cause a return to fall short of where the opponent thought it would land.
“If you can use the wind, it’s your ally,” Hostetler said. “Too many kids go out there and complain about the wind. If you use it, it makes you twice the player.”
Examples of players using the wind to their advantage came from: Patel getting a drop shot to land gently over the net while facing the wind. Bobby Moran hitting a low liner that found the space between Sam Dixon and Connor Wilson in the No. 1 doubles match.
Anderson’s No. 2 doubles tandem of Evan Dorff and Brady Reed downed Pendleton Heights’ Zack Wright and Ben Ausburger 6-3, 6-3 for the Tribe’s first point. Before they could get a postmatch drink of water, the No. 1 doubles match ended with Drew Hueston and Moran picking up a 6-4, 6-1 win over Dixon and Wilson.
“My doubles teams have been very consistent, and they want to set the tone for us,” Hostetler said. “They’ve been very strong. Getting the first two points for us gave us the motivation to finish it off.”
Brady Colip downed Evan Hart at No. 3 singles for Anderson’s fourth point after a 6-3, 6-3 win.
Then all eyes turned to the conclusion of the No. 1 singles match between Anderson’s Brett Ellis and Pendleton Heights’ Graham McMullen.
McMullen came away with a 6-1, 6-2 win in a match highlighted by long rallies and exuberant yells. Following the completion of the match, instead of the postgame handshake at the net, Ellis leapt over the net to the other side to shake hands with McMullen and then embraced his friend and competitor.
“That was just two good friends going at each other. They are good friends, they know each other’s games,” Hostetler said. “Brett played well. He made Graham earn this match.”
“They’re all good friends, good players,” PH head coach Royce Hammel said. “(Anderson’s) a good team, they’re well coached. It’s going to be a tough regional, but I think they’ll represent our area well.”
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