Tiger Cubs defeat S. Putnam in tennis opener

Greencastle High School's girls' tennis team opened the 2006 season with a win Tuesday night, as they defeated South Putnam 5-0 on the road.

All three of the Eagles' varsity singles players won their matches in straight sets.

Kelsey Hennette defeated Kim Puckett in the No. 1 match by scores of 6-1 and 7-6.

In the No. 2 position, Rena Warren downed Savanna Cline 6-2, 6-3.

Completing the singles sweep was Savannah Provine, who defeated South Putnam's Samantha Callahan 6-2, 6-2.

The Eagles didn't fare much better in their doubles matches, although Annie Willer and Shelley Douglass did manage to last three sets in their No. 1 match against Kara Phillips and Kayla Birt.

Willer and Douglass won the first set 6-2 but dropped the next two by scores of 6-1 and 6-3.

The Tiger Cubs wrapped up their shutout of South Putnam in the No. 2 doubles match, as Lorissa Miller and Ashley Watkins defeated Megan Criss and Chelsea Clark in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

Eagles Coach Johnnie Briones certainly wasn't happy about the loss, but he chalked up Tuesday's defeat to first-match jitters.

"It's the first varsity match, and nerves played a factor," Briones said.

Greencastle Coach Trish Lowe, on the other hand, couldn't have been happier about the way the Tiger Cubs kicked off the 2006 campaign.

"I am happy with the way we began our season," Lowe said.

"We have five experienced varsity players who learned a lot and have given us some goals and challenges for the season to come."

South Putnam's junior varsity squad came away from Tuesday's match with a 5-1 victory over the Tiger Cubs.

Greencastle's JV team picked up one singles' win and swept doubles action at Tuesday's match.

The Tiger Cubs will look to pick up their second win of the season Thursday when they'll travel to Rockville.

South Putnam's next match will be next Monday when they'll host the Vikings of West Vigo.

At South Putnam

Greencastle 5, South Putnam 0

Singles

1. Kelsey Hennette (G) d. Kim Puckett, 6-1, 7-6

2. Rena Warren (G) d. Savanna Cline, 6-2, 6-3

3. Savannah Provine (G) d. Samantha Callahan, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

1. Kara Phillips and Kayla Birt (G) d. Annie Willer and Shelley Douglas, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3

2. Lorissa Miller and Ashley Watkins (G) d. Megan Criss and Chelsea Clark, 7-5, 6-4

Next Matches -- Greencastle will face Rockville on the road Thursday at 4:30 p.m. South Putnam will play again next Monday at home against West Vigo at 5 p.m.