Stars settle for 6th with HHC loss to JC

BNL’s Rachel Kidd hits a forehand return. The Stars fell to Jennings County 4-1 in the fifth-place match of the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament.

NORTH VERNON – Jennings County swept the singles while conquering Bedford North Lawrence 4-1 in the consolation round of the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament on Friday.

BNL’s only victory came at No.2 doubles as the Stars slipped to 7-8 and settled for sixth place in the league.

Kenley Craig and Izzy Alldredge won a tough two-set match over Hannah Green and Cassidy Mull, escaping with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph while improving to 11-4 as a tandem this season.

“Our No.2 doubles is very consistent,” BNL coach Joni Stigall said. “I rarely have to beg them to play hard. For two freshmen to have a record of 11-4, that’s pretty good. They have far exceeded my expectations. They don’t get down on themselves, they work well together, always listen and respond.”

The Stars lost two other close contests. Jennings County’s Tatum Brown edged Emily Duncan 5-7, 7-5, 12-10 in a three-set duel at No.2 singles, and the Panthers prevailed at No.1 doubles with Sydney Carson and Liz Ertel clipping Bella Stigall and Mallory Pride 7-5, 6-4.

“I couldn’t have asked Emily to play any better,” Stigall said. “She played a really good player, and in their last match Emily won only five games. What an improvement. When we went over her game plan, it was move the ball and frustrate her opponent. That’s exactly what she did. Unfortunately the tiebreaker slipped through her fingers.”

Jennings completed the singles sweep with Reagan Brown’s 6-0, 6-0 win over Rachel Kidd at No.1 and Carmen Kopitzke’s 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Becca Epping at No.3.

BNL will learn its postseason draw on Monday and compete in the sectional at Bloomington North next week.

HHC Tournament

Consolation Round

Jennings County 4, BNL 1

Singles

1 Reagan Brown, JC d. Rachel Kidd 6-0, 6-0

2 Tatum Brown, JC d. Emily Duncan 5-7, 7-5, 12-10

3 Carmen Kopitzke, JC d. Becca Epping 6-1, 6-2

Doubles

1 Sydney Carson and Liz Ertel, JC d. Bella Stigall and Mallory Pride 7-5, 6-4

2 Kenley Craig and Izzy Alldredge, BNL d. Hannah Green and Cassidy Mull 6-4, 7-5