With the Sagamore Conference title on the line, Crawfordsville girls’ tennis put up a fight, but fell 3-2 to Lebanon on Saturday.
The Athenians picked up wins at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles, while falling in three sets in the decisive match at No. 1 doubles.
“Our goal was to fight for every single point and keep battling to the very end,” Crawfordsville coach Jeff Strickland said. “We came close to upsetting a very good Lebanon team and I’m super proud of that.”
The duo of Lilly Klingbeil and Elyse Widmer dropped the first set to Khushi Patel and Haley Pierce 6-3, but rebounded for 6-2, 6-4 wins in sets two and three to seal the point for the Athenians. Samantha Rohr also made quick work of Molly Barber 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
The fight came at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. In the No. 1 position, Lauren Hale fell to Jessica Lehnmkuhler 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).
And at No. 1 doubles, Lebanon’s Michelle Horvat and Irene Ransom narrowly defeated Crawfordsville’s Ella Hudson and Cathleen McGrady 7-6 (7-2) in the first set. Hudson and McGrady then got behind 3-0 in set No. 2, but never gave up. The Athenian duo won six of the next seven games to take the set 6-4. Unfortunately, the Tigers’ No. 1 tandem prevailed with a 6-1 win in set No. 3.
Lebanon’s Ava Lehnmkuhler beat Crawfordsville’s Hannah McLean 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles.
“You never want to lose but we left encouraged and excited to get out compete next week at the sectional,” Strickland said.
