By RYAN WALKER
For the first time this season, the Bluffton Tigers tennis team got a gut check.
The visiting Leo Lions took care of the former unbeaten Tigers in a 5-0 sweep on Monday night. A match that was more competitive than the score, going to nearly three tiebreaker matches and taking three hours to complete.
But in the end, it was a sweep in the only blemish of a promising season for the Tigers, who dropped to 5-1 after the loss.
Leo’s program isn’t one to shove off. The Lions’ 2023 season ended in the semi-state championship when they lost to Noblesville 3-2.
The Tigers were ranked higher in District 2 than the Lions, which could be due to the previous unbeaten record. But the Lions proved that they belong.
“Leo was the better team,” Bluffton head coach Bob Vanderkolk said. “I don’t know if we beat them too often if we play that match 10 times. The guys for the most part competed. There’s a couple things we need to work on. It’s not to the point to where I’m ready to shut the season down by any means. We knew coming in this was going to be a tough match.”
It was indeed a tough match.
The Tigers only won the first set in one of their five games against the Lions. Jacob Ribich at No. 3 singles was the lone winner, but fell in the final two sets. However, both doubles matches were dogfights.
At No. 1 doubles, Ben Maggard and Coy Lantz went 6-4, 6-3 and at No. 2 doubles team of Kade Abbett and Dane Schlagenhauf fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
There was a window of opportunity for Bluffton to pull off a victory with those doubles spots and No. 3 singles matches being close, but Leo’s deep experience and talent stole them away.
It’s the type of loss that the Tigers might need to have a wake-up call and learn from. They’re aiming for their third straight ACAC title and first sectional for this group of seniors. The undefeated streak being lost forces Bluffton to recalibrate and get up for its match at Wabash the next day following a loss. And better yet, No. 21 in the state Carroll is coming later in the week before the first ACAC matchup against Jay County the next day.
“We accept it, we learn from it — hopefully, we learn from it and move on,” Vanderkolk said. “We can’t dwell on it too much, we’ve got Wabash tomorrow night and Carroll following that. We don’t have time to dwell on it, which is a good thing after a loss. You just pretty much, for lack of a better term, get back on the bike and get after it again.”
After the match against Carroll, Bluffton will start its mission to win the conference. It will play South Adams on the 19th and Adams Central the week after that. County rival Norwell also meets them early next week on the 16th. The Tigers will need to regroup and do it fast if they want to accomplish their goals.
“(Leo) got us uncomfortable, we haven’t really been uncomfortable this year,” Vanderkolk said. “Hopefully, that doesn’t become a trend, and we can go back to making our opponents feel more uncomfortable and exerting what we want to do with the tennis ball instead of playing defense.”
Bluffton’s match at Wabash will start at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
ryan@news-banner.com
Individual results:
• Evan Winters defeated Nolan Lambert 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
• Jonathon Plattner defeated Nolan Lambert 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
• Brysen Maurice defeated Jacob Ribich 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
• Maddox Nelson and Charlie Amstutz defeated Ben Maggard and Coy Lantz 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles.
• Kasey Kissner and Parker Wilson defeated Kade Abbett and Dane Schlagenhauf 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.
Bluffton won the junior varsity match 6-4.
Results for JV:
• Ben Meyer (L) defeated Lance Moser 8-5.
• Jed Logan (B) defeated Steward Steitenger 8-6.
• Jared Moser (B) defeated Tate Rieger 8-3.
• Henry Romine (L) defeated Henry Romine 8-3.
• Hudson Hockmeyer (L) defeated Kenny Mercer 8-5.
• Alex Maggard and Reid Abbett (B) won 8-4.
• Jackson Meyer and Lincoln Rodgers (B) defeated Greysen Snyder and Tanner Reynolds 8-6.
• Sawyer Blecke and Hudson Hockmeyer (L) defeated Grant Reifsteck and Braden Lemler 8-3.
• Graham Linderwell and Jace Draper (B) defeated Guy Gerber and Brayden Gray 8-3.
• Carter Lehman and Carter Williams (B) defeated Grayson Davis and Jack Carder 8-2.
