Alices smoke Bloomfield 5-0 in Cards’ season opener

Gage Lowry returns a shot Tuesday night against Sam Corrona of Vincennes Lincoln. Corrona defeated Lowry 6-4, 7-6(5) in one of the closest matches of the night.

By Andrew Bowen

BLOOMFIELD -- Four matches proved to be close Tuesday night, but there were no cigars for Bloomfield’s tennis team in its season opener with visiting Vincennes Lincoln.

The Alices swept Bloomfield (0-1) 5-0. Bloomfield coach Mike Canty noted every Cardinal was playing a new position since the team lost Chris Gilmore, Brennan Hughes, and Adam Dean to graduation, and they just couldn’t overcome a veteran Vincennes squad.

“The results weren’t completely unexpected,” Canty said. “Bloomfield doesn’t have anyone playing in a position they were in a year ago. It will take a while for everyone to get comfortable in their position and get used to the speed of the varsity game.”

In the No. 1 singles match, Brayden Seger (VL) defeated Wyatt McIntosh, 6-2, 6-0. Canty said McIntosh came out strong, “but couldn’t maintain the intensity.”

The No. 2 singles match saw Issac Lane (VL) pull out a 6-2, 7-6(2) over Turner Royal. Even though he lost, Canty said Royal pushed his opponent hard.

Sam Corrona (VL) edged Gage Lowry 6-4, 7-6(5), in the No. 3 singles match.

“Doubles competition was pretty much the same as singles,” Canty said. “They were close, but couldn’t close out sets.”

Trevor Stenger and Monty Fleck (VL) beat Andrew Shelton and Peyton Davis, 7-6(2), 6-1, in the No. 1 doubles match.

The No. 2 doubles match proved to be the closest of the night. Kyle Stenger and Dustin Altstadt (VL) scraped past Donovan Cosgrove and Graysen Medina, 6-4, 6-4.

“The bright spot of the night was when freshmen Wilson Keene and Reese Schulte defeated Nate Yung and Blake Bobe 8-0 in a junior varsity doubles match,” Canty said.

Things don’t get easier for the Cards as Bloomfield will host Northview at 5:00 p.m. tonight and Loogootee at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.