Not affected quite as much as other spring sports, the Bridgeport High School tennis team has still dealt with some cancellations and the reshuffling of matches. With brighter skies and warmer temperatures ahead, the Tribe looks forward to the remainder of the season. Currently, both the boys and girls remain undefeated.

 

The Indians have played and defeated Fairmont Senior, Williamstown, Notre Dame, Liberty, North Marion, Philip Barbour and most recently, Grafton and East Fairmont. Both boys and girls won 7-0 at the match played Wednesday at Bridgeport’s new home court at Deegan Lake. At East Fairmont, boys won 5-2 and girls 6-1. 

 

“I’m very happy and pleased with the kids,” said Coach Dan Oliveto. “They’re having fun and playing well. They love being out there. The rain has been depressing at times, but right now we’re playing some tennis and playing very well.”

 

The boys’ lineup includes Grant DuVall, No. 1 singles; Ben Holbert, No. 2 singles; Brent Sinsel, No. 3 singles and Tanner Cava, No. 4 singles. Doubles teams are DuVall and Holbert (No. 1), Sinsel and Cava (No. 2) and Andrew Barlow and Christian Lehosit (No. 3). All are seniors, meaning there will be a clean slate for the 2019 roster.

  

For the girls, senior Rachel Lamm plays No. 1 singles. The remainder of the Lady Indians are Eleanor Noone, No. 2 singles; Grace Ebert, No. 3 singles and Virginia Noone, No. 4 singles. In doubles’ play, Lamm and Eleanor Noone combine for No. 1, Ebert and Virginia Noone for No. 2 and Sophia Gorby and Maggie Walker for No. 3.

 

“Line one players are definitely challenged every week and others have accepted their roles in the lineup and are stepping up to their competition levels which is good,” Oliveto said.

 

At Wednesday’s match against the Bearcats, Duvall defeated Quincy Copeland 8-5; Holbert defeated Patrick Reneau 8-2, Sinsel defeated Marik Chambers 8-0 and Cava defeated Tanner Taylor 8-1 in singles play.

 

Boys’ doubles victories were Duvall/Holbert over Copeland/Chambers 8-5, Sinsel/Cava over Reneau/Taylor 8-0, Barlow/Llehosit over Phillip Reger/Cort Blake 8-2.

In girls’ singles action, Lamm defeated Brooklyn Teeple 8-2, Eleanor Noone defeated Savannah Carter 8-0, Ebert defeated Natalie Wober 8-0 and Virginia Noone defeated Lauren White 8-0.

 

Lady Indians doubles victories included Lamm/Virginia Noone over Teeple/Carter 8-2, Eleanor Noone/Ebert over Wober/Chloe Collins 8-1 and Maggie Walker/Sophia Gorby over Lauren White/Morgan Johnson 8-2.

 

At Thursday’s match, played in Fairmont,

 

Both boys and girls stand at 7-0 with some tough matches ahead.

 

“We have Parkersburg Catholic next week (April 19, 4 p.m. at Deegan Lake) and Lincoln the following week (April 23, 4 p.m. at Deegan Lake); both very good teams,” Oliveto said. “But at this point in the year, both our boys and girls are doing very well.”

 

Matches with Robert C. Byrd and Lewis County – both called due to weather – will be made up this coming week. The Tribe is on the road Saturday to play Lewis and again April 21 as they play RCB ad Moorefield at the Flying Eagles’ home court.  

 

The Tribe is on the road today to play Braxton County and in action Monday and Tuesday, April 16 and 17, as they play Elkins at home and Buckhannon-Upshur away.

 

Editor's Note: Photos of Sinsel (cover), Lehosit and Noone above, are by Ben Queen Photography.