Tiger Cubs to play in sectional rematch

Yiji Mozawa of GHS returns in the third set in the Northview sectional, against Owen Valley at DePauw. Mozawa earned the win the three sets. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The Greencastle boys' tennis team is moving on. After dispatching Owen Valley in a 5-0 knockout Tuesday, the Tiger Cubs will be playing Northview a team that GHS is already familiar with.

"Tomorrow will probably be our toughest match against Northview," GHS' Jed Fajt said. "It came down to the wire last year in both matches. It was the same this year. It's going to take everybody stepping up. We've got a younger team but other teams lost people just like we did. We've got a good chance we just have to stick to what we know. "

Greencastle overcame Northview 3-2 in the sectional championship last year after losing to them in the regular season. GHS then earned another 3-2 win against its sectgional foe on Sept. 8.

The Tiger Cubs are now looking to make it three-in-a-row after their first-round win.

"We're fired up," coach Kevin Rowe said. "It's always a good match when we are playing Northview. Like Jed was saying. Both matches came down to the wire."

Fajt took the win 6-0, 6-1 easy at DePauw where the match had been relocated to due to rain.

"The (Owen Valley) kid, I'd never played before," Fajt said. "He hit some different shots so I had to adjust my game a little bit. I just kept the ball in play as much as I can. Then I just rely on him to make a mistake. Once he gave me an easier shot I tried to put it away."

Sean Ramey took two wins both at 6-2 and Yiji Mozawa earned a gritty win, going the distance in three sets. After falling 6-3, Mozawa earned the second and third sets 6-1 and 6-3.

Nathan Gobert and Elijah Lewis also had a longer match aftet falling in set one 7-5. But the Tiger Cubs again bounced back and won 6-2 and 6-4.

Nathan Hensley and Jacob Harris took wins in two sets, 6-3, 6-4.

"We had a couble of shaky sets but everybody pulled out the match and that was good to see," said Fajt.

GHS will play Northview at Northview Wednesday. South Putnam also plays South Vermillion with the winners of each match taking on each other for the sectional championship.

"If we stick to the basics," Rowe said. "Keeping the ball in play. Keeping it deep and I think we'll be fine. We can't be overconfident. Northview is a great team. It can be easily seen that the match could've gone the other way."