Delta Girls Tennis Secures Spot in State Finals with Semi-State Victory

Three years ago, the current senior players on the Delta girls tennis team experienced their first IHSAA state finals as freshmen. Now, they have once again earned their place at the state finals, concluding their high school careers on the same stage. On Saturday, May 30, the Eagles faced off against the Homestead Spartans in Fort Wayne, a match that featured two top-20 teams—No. 15 Delta and No. 18 Homestead according to the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association poll. Delta emerged victorious with a 4-1 win, marking the seventh appearance in the state finals for the school and their first since 2023.

Delta's head coach, Tim Cleland, credited the team's success to their extensive experience and consistent practice. "We've got a lot of experience, but I think our best characteristic is just our ability to be locked in at practice day after day," he remarked. The Eagles showcased their depth, with five seniors among the seven varsity players, while their opponents fielded a team without any seniors.

In singles play, Delta's freshman Sophie Crabtree faced junior Caroline Meier from Homestead at No. 1 singles, where she put up a good fight but ultimately lost 6-2, 6-4. However, Delta's doubles teams proved to be decisive, with senior Kate Manor and junior Alexa Bratton winning 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles match, and seniors Elizabeth Bamidele and Rowan Hinds securing a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles. Manor, who has been a key player since her freshman year, expressed her excitement about returning to the semi-state after a long absence. "Semi-state, we haven't been there since freshman year, so honestly, going into it just makes it a lot more special," she shared.

At No. 3 singles, senior Stella Sieber delivered a strong performance, winning her match 6-0 after splitting the first two sets. Meanwhile, the thrilling contest at No. 2 singles saw senior Olivia Marshall battle back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to win it in a tiebreaker, finishing with a score of 7-5, 7-6 (3). "I think the Westfield match really gave me confidence... I just proved to myself that I could do it in a tough match," Marshall stated.

Delta, now the smallest public school remaining in the IHSAA girls tennis championship hunt, has overcome larger schools to reach this point, including Westfield and Homestead. Coach Cleland emphasized the challenge of reaching the state finals, stating, "It's hard to reach that level. It's a single-class sport, and only eight teams make it out of 310." The Eagles now look ahead to their final challenge as they prepare to face No. 8 Munster at North Central High School.