Pioneers win Austin Invitational

Providence won the Austin Invitational Girls Tennis Tournament on Saturday, winning four of the five championships losing only at the third singles position.

Junior Stephanie Smith led the team winning 6-1, 6-0 against Sara Hutton of Scottsburg and 6-3, 6-4 against Hannah Wahmer of Austin. Smith had excellent matches against strong first singles players. Stephanie had a great day and played solid tennis for the team. She is 2 and 1 on the season.

At second singles senior co-captain Kady Bandy won 6-0, 6-0 against Megan Edwards of Austin and 6-2, 6-1 against Holly Stewart of Scottsburg. In the four years that Kady has played for Providence this was the best two matches she has played in a tournament. She went out on the court first (in her first match) and was off the courts very quickly with a strong performance. She is 5 and 1 on the season.

Junior Sammie Riggs was the only loser for Providence dropping her first match 3-6, 0-6 to Katie Birch of Scottsburg and 0-6, 1-6 against Shawnee Bayes of Austin. Sammie had many good points and the scores don't indicate how well she played during the tournament.

The first doubles tandem of senior co-captain Emily DiNoto and junior Courtney Murphy easily won their first match 6-2, 6-2 over the senior doubles team of Katie Trueblood and Amanda Mundan of Scottsburg. In the final match of the tournament they out distanced the Austin team of Lisann Goodin and Shantel Gray 6-4, 6-4. They played solid tennis and had some very good games. They are 5 and 1 on the season.

The second doubles team of junior Hanna Gish and sophomore Hillary Ernstbeger won 6-3, 6-1 against Brittany Neace and Sidney Neace of Austin and won a long match against Bonsett and Donovan of Scottsburg 6-4, 6-4 in their final match. This team continues to improve as a doubles team and their individual skills are also improving. They are 5 and 1 as a team.

Overall it was a very good day. Anytime you can go into a tournament and win 4 of the 5 first places you have done very well. It is very easy to just have a bad match along the way and the girls just did not let this happen. It was very rewarding to see that none of the winners had a three set match.