Munster getting prepared

Updated: June 7, 2011 1:37PM

MUNSTER — The Munster girl’s tennis team is used to reaching milestones. Use their unprecedented run of sectional titles as an example. But if the Mustangs plan on having a celebration for their senior class today for their home finale against Plymouth, the festitivites could set a record for the shortest ever.

Introducing the Mustang tennis class of 2011: you have doubles player Andjela Radmilovic and then you have ... uh ... well, that’s it. One senior on the consensus top team in the region, albeit it a hard one to replace next year.

“She’s an important part of our success this year,” said Munster coach Bill Heuer.

Then again, why think next year when there’s yet another sectional title within reach. Not to mention a possible rematch with the team that handed the Mustangs their first loss.

Munster (No. 9 in the state) took steps in both directions with a hard fought 3-2 win over Valparaiso Monday on the strength of their doubles teams picking up wins, and a very talented freshman who made quick work of her opponent in number one singles.

Jessica Rooth was impressive in her 6-0 6-0 win over Vikings freshman Kelly Kennedy, but a case could be made that she had a better performance 48 hours before, winning her match in Munster’s 4-1 loss to top-ranked and defending state champion South Bend St. Joseph’s.

“She’s been playing since she was six or seven years old,” Heuer said. “She plays in top level tournaments all across the country. That makes her very competitive at the high school level.”

While Rooth’s win may have been the shortest match of the day, the most competitive was No. 2 singles between Valparaiso’s Collin Kennedy and Munster’s Sam Sakevicius. Kennedy, the twin sister of Kelly, came out on top 6-3 7-5, although Sakevicius trailed 4-1 in the final set before a late run to make things interesting down the stretch.

“Caitlin did a nice job out there,” said Valparaiso assistant coach Melissa Oberg. “Sometimes it takes a little longer but it was great to watch. It was entertaining.”

But in the end, just as frustrating for the Vikings.

“We came out aggressively but we just couldn’t get that one swing point,” Oberg said.

The sectionals begin Wednesday with the Mustangs going for a state-record 36th sectional and a 35th consecutive title (also a record). Good luck trying to end the streak any time soon. Of the top seven players for the Mustangs, four of them will not see anything resembling a diploma for at least two years.

Valparaiso other individual victory came at No. 3 singles with Katie McDonald defeating Christiann Tavitas in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.

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