Golden Eagles’ girls tennis levels mark with back-to-back wins

News Staff Reports

Big Walnut evened its record to 3–3 with last Thursday’s (August 23) non-league victory, dropping host Hilliard Darby 3–2.

Golden Eagle winners included Grace Coffman, who knocked off Joyce Kim 6–4, 6–3 at first singles; Bailey Sewalk, who defeated Abigail Greene 6–1, 6–1 at second singles; and the duo of Emily Balaz and Brittany Kizer, who combined to beat Deepthi Nacharuju and Laura Martin 7–5, 6–3 at second doubles.

The Panthers’ decisions came at third singles where Abby Shuster held off Melissa Grooms 6–4, 6–3 in two sets and at first doubles where the tandem of Megan Allen-Kate Greely survived Cali Ford and Blake Stenger 7–6, 6–4.

BIG WALNUT 4, RIVER VALLEY 1 — Led by the singles sweep of Grace Coffman, Bailey Sewalk and Melissa Grooms, the Golden Eagles defeated the host Vikings to climb to within a win of the .500 mark at 2–3 last Wednesday (August 22) in Caledonia.

On the singles courts Big Walnut’s Grace Coffman, Bailey Sewalk and Melissa Grooms emerged victorious. Coffman netted a 6–4, 6–1 first singles nod over Taylor Kitchen, Sewalk posted a 6–2, 6–2 decision over Katie Coller and Grooms scored a hard-fought 3–6, 6–3, 7–6 three-set victory over Katie Longacre.

At doubles, the duet of Emily Balaz and Brittany Kizer posted 6–1, 6–3 second doubles victory over Sierra Green and Caitlyn Emptage for the Golden Eagles.

River Valley’s lone point came at first doubles where the Vikings’ Abby Cosky and Emma Christman scored a competitive 6–3, 5–7, 6–3 three-set decision over Blake Stenger and Cali Ford.

OLENTANGY 4, BIG WALNUT 1 — The Braves, winning on four of the five courts, handled the Golden Eagles in recording their first decision in the newly-realigned Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division. Olentangy swept all three singles courts and split the two doubles courts last Tuesday (August 21) afternoon in Sunbury.

Olentangy winners included Megan Brdicka, who knocked off Grace Coffman 6–1, 6–0 at first singles; Bri Brdicka, who beat Bailey Sewalk 6–1, 6–0 at second singles; Pallavi Mannava, who handled Melissa Grooms 7–6, 6–0 at third singles; and the duo of Grace Cramer and Sandhya Arya, who came from behind and scored off Cali Ford and Blake Stenger 2–6, 6–1, 6–4 at first doubles.

Big Walnut’s lone win came from Emily Balaz and Brittany Kizer, who combined to beat Olentangy’s Elyssa Ackerman and Izzy Smith 6–2, 6–4 at second doubles.

With the loss, the Golden Eagles dropped to 1–3 for the season.