Brickies blank Boone Grove in title match

Updated: June 7, 2011 1:38PM

HOBART — Hobart’s Ashley Kilgore admits that her senior season hasn’t been as good as she had hoped. But she and her teammates took coach Karen Baaluw’s advice going into the Hobart tennis sectional.

“I told them, never come into a match overconfident, always play your best game,” Baaluw said.

The Brickies did just that, sweeping Boone Grove 5-0 to capture the sectional championship, with seniors Kilgore, at No. 2 singles, and Reena Childers  leading the way.

Kilgore, who beat Allison Rice, 6-1, 6-0, said she came into the tourney and “yesterday I had the best game of my life. The beginning of the season was very difficult for me, but I’m playing so well in the sectional.”

Baaluw agreed: “Ashley and Reena both played the games of their life. Reena  (who beat Allyson Trevino, 6-1, 6-0), has become more savy and seasoned. Reena was just on today.

“The whole team has improved, I believe we haven’t peaked yet.”

The Brickies are 9-9 going into the Portage Regional.

“Our No. 2 doubles (Mallory Bilski and Susan Pinara, who beat Rachel Lamb and Jennifer Huerta, 5-2, 6-0) had the best match they’ve had all season,” Baaluw said. 

At No. 3 singles, Sabrina Millsap defeated Brittaney Ziomviak, 6-1, 6-1.

“In particular, she has made notable improvement,” Baaluw said.

Boone Grove coach Dave Paapp, who is in his second year with the Wolves (3-9), wasn’t discouraged about the 5-0 loss, the same score as their early-season loss to Hobart. He said the team has improved as the season went along.

“I’m proud of them being here,” said Paapp, who was a member of a Crown Point team that won a state championship in 1971. “The girls just have to play a lot more tennis, especially in the summer.

“There a lot of freshmen on this team, and we’re trying to develop a program, and this is a great start.”

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