VEEDERSBURG — Fountain Central girls tennis has a special team led by special coaches in Chris Webb and David Kight. Friday, FC found themselves playing for yet another sectional title after taking down Parke Heritage in the semi-finals 5-0. The only team that stood in the Mustangs way was WRC rival Covington. With a sectional championship trophy on the line, FC had little trouble dispatching their rivals and were 5-0 winners to capture the programs 14th sectional title.
Senior Haley Webb improved her record to 15-2 on the season with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Covington’s Peyton Brown at one singles. Younger sister Elise Webb was a 6-2, 6-4 winner at two singles. Laney Hoagland won her match at three singles over Jalyn Allen 6-2, 6-1. The one doubles team of Alydia Mellady and Hannah Prickett were 6-1, 6-2 winners over Lilly Hacquet and Addison Streuer while the two doubles team of Josie Harshbarger and Lilly Peterson took down Trinity Cope and Maddix Minick 6-0, 6-2.
“The thing that is probably the most cool about this one is that this is the first time since Coach Webb and I have been here that we’ve one won the boys and girls sectional titles in the same school year,” Webb said. “Obviously each team is different and they all have their own personalities. This team has just been as consistent day in and day out. Our one doubles team with Hannah and Alydia is the best example of that. Their one loss this season was early to Covington then we come back in the conference tournament and beat them in straight sets. I really think that gave our girls a lot of confidence. Covington’s one doubles team is fantastic and to see that performance out of Hannah and Alydia was special.”
Webb also credited his two doubles team and noted how those were spots he was concerned about heading into the championship game, however the three juniors and freshman came through in the biggest way in the biggest game of the Mustangs season.
“They played the type of tennis that we needed and it’s a super impressive thing to watch three juniors and a freshman do that in a championship match,” Webb said. “Both of those teams got off to such great starts and that’s what you need in a sectional is come out and set the tone early and we were able to do just that.”
Fountain Central’s special season marches on as they improve to 14-1 on the season. The Mustangs advance to Tuesday’s Regional at Lebanon where they’ll get a re-match with area foe Crawfordsville. Earlier this season, FC was able to pull out a 3-2 win over CHS in what was competitive battle as is always the case when the two teams square off. Webb knows that it will be another battle with an Athenian team who will be looking to get revenge for the earlier season loss.
“We had three singles and two doubled both go three sets back when we won against them and it could have easily been a 3-2 loss,” he said. “I expect Crawfordsville to be much better just like we’ve gotten much better since then. We know that they’re very solid across the board and are an extremely well coached team. All three singles players are good and we didn’t get to see their normal one doubles team the last time. We know we wont’ get away with just an average performance and have to work extremely hard to find wins at three of those five spots.”
The winner between CHS FC will advance to Wednesday’s Regional final vs the winner of Park Tudor and Carmel.
