Tennis Semistate: Munster headed to state for 4th straight year

LAPORTE -- At one point during Saturday's championship match of the LaPorte Semistate, Munster girls tennis coach Bob Modesto surveyed the five courts, and an unsettling thought flashed through his mind.

"Man, we could lose this," he said.

But the Mustangs didn't.

They simply were too talented, too experienced, too focused, too determined, coming away with a 4-1 victory over South Bend St. Joseph's.

The Indians (17-2) pushed Munster (18-1), but the Mustangs were not going to be denied their fourth straight semistate title and fifth in the last six seasons.

"It never gets old," Modesto said. "You never take it for granted, you're never sure you're going to win. We were the favorite, but we could've lost. We knew it was going to be a battle, and it was. We certainly have respect for South Bend St. Joe.

"It helps prepare us for next week, particularly somebody like Bobbi (Modesto), a freshman who's never been in this arena, who hasn't heard all the cheering, where all the points are critical. The eye certainly is on next week and what could happen there."

Next week, Saturday specifically, is the state tournament. Munster, which has been the state runner-up to Park Tudor each of the last three seasons, will play in the semifinals at Indianapolis North Central High School against the winner of the North Central Semistate, which will be held on Monday.

In Saturday's semistate semifinals, Munster topped Valparaiso (15-4) 5-0, and St. Joseph's posted the same score against first-time participant NorthWood (15-4).

The Mustangs had beaten the Indians 3-2 on May 16, playing without Bobbi Modesto, who missed five matches over about two weeks with a strained rotator cuff she suspects she suffered while weight training in gym class. She was in the lineup for Saturday's match at No. 2 singles -- they had lost at No. 3 singles during the regular-season match, with Christina Lee winning at No. 2 -- and defeated Jessi Rink 6-3, 6-3 for their first point.

"That was one of the hardest matches to miss," Bobbi Modesto said. "I went to the athletic trainer, and said I didn't care if I had to sit out practice, but I really didn't want to miss that match. But he said I couldn't play. I was devastated. So I'm just glad I'm healthy to play."

Lee, at No. 3 on Saturday, gave Munster an insurmountable 3-0 lead with a 6-3, 7-5 victory. After controlling the first set, she actually trailed 1-4 in the second before storming back.

"I just tell myself, if I won the first set, why can't I win the second?" Lee said. "I have the mentality I'm not going to give up.

"It's our fourth time going (to the state tournament), my third, and there's still as much feeling as the past three years."

In between Munster's victories at No. 2 and 3 singles, Vanessa Sepiol and Kamryn Klawitter claimed a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles against Darby Mountford and Michele Fredlake.

Mary Hill defeated Alaina Roberts 6-4, 6-3.

"That was my toughest match all year," said Hill, who had beaten Roberts -- one of two freshmen for the Indians, whose lineup also includes five sophomores -- 6-2, 6-1 in their first match. "It was a good test for me, and I'm just so happy we're going back to state my last year."

With the score 4-0, St. Joseph's won its lone match -- it was the first time since the first St. Joe match that Munster didn't win 5-0 -- at No. 1 doubles, with Bridget Veldman and Elle Harding pulling out a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 decision against Rachael Heiniger and Kristina Kovacich.

It was another tight match after the Indians pair had won in three sets during the regular season.

Valparaiso enjoyed both a terrific regular season, winning its first Duneland Conference title since 1996, and postseason, winning its first regional title since 1994.

Sepiol and Klawitter defeated the Vikings tandem of Allison Hess and Allison Hauser 6-4, 6-1, as the Mustangs rallied from 1-4 in the first set. Heiniger and Kovacich defeated Bri Sever and Natalie Bohn 6-2, 7-5. Respectively, Hill, Modesto and Lee won in straight sets against Christina Rodich, Jordan Lewandowski and Mia Kalisch.

"We knew they were a great team, but we thought we could give them a match at both of the doubles -- our two doubles is as good as anyone, and Bri is a very good doubles player," said Valparaiso coach Tim Shideler, whose team also had lost to Munster 5-0 on May 18. "And we were hoping to get some great performances at singles.

"We were just hoping to play our best match and give them some competition. I'm happy with it."

Contact Michael Osipoff at 648-3137, mosipoff@post-trib.com or visit his blog at blogs.post-trib.com/osipoff.

LaPorte Semistate

At Kesling Park

Championship

Munster 4, South Bend St. Joseph's 1

Singles -- Mary Hill (M) def. Alaina Roberts 6-4, 6-3; Bobbi Modesto (M) def. Jessi Rink 6-3, 6-3; Christina Lee (M) def. Abby Watkins 6-3, 7-5

Doubles -- Bridget Veldman-Elle Harding (SBSJ) def. Rachael Heiniger-Kristina Kovacich 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Vanessa Sepiol-Kamryn Klawitter (M) def. Darby Mountford-Michele Fredlake 6-3, 6-4

Records: Munster 18-1, South Bend St. Joseph's 17-2

Semifinals

Munster 5, Valparaiso 0

Singles -- Mary Hill def. Christina Rodich 6-0, 6-1; Bobbi Modesto def. Jordan Lewandowski 6-0, 6-0; Christina Lee def. Mia Kalisch 6-1, 6-1

Doubles -- Rachael Heiniger-Kristina Kovacich def. Bri Sever-Natalie Bohn 6-2, 7-5; Vanessa Sepiol-Kamryn Klawitter def. Allison Hess-Allison Hauser 6-4, 6-1

Records: Munster 17-1, Valparaiso 15-4

South Bend St. Joseph's 5, NorthWood 0

Singles -- Alaina Roberts def. Melissa Ramer 6-0, 6-1; Jessi Rink def. Courtney Simpson 6-1, 6-1; Abby Watkins def. Ashley McClintic 6-0, 6-1

Doubles -- Bridget Veldman-Elle Harding def. Alli Heeter-Kerry Hoffer 6-0, 6-3; Darby Mountford-Michele Fredlake def. Jill Focht-Lindsey Mast 6-2, 6-3

Records: South Bend St. Joseph's 17-1, NorthWood 15-4