Bloomington North and South advance to IHSAA girls tennis sectional semifinals with close wins

In a thrilling turn of events, Bloomington South and North both managed to reverse their previous losses in the rain-delayed South girls’ tennis sectional semifinals, securing their spots in the final by the narrowest of margins.

Facing off against upstarts Brown County and Edgewood, South and North emerged victorious with 3-2 wins, setting the stage for an intense showdown in the final on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Prior to the matches, all four teams paid tribute to former South English teacher Elizabeth Christa von Buchler, who recently passed away from cancer at the age of 48.

South’s triumph included a reversal of their 3-2 loss to Brown County, with key wins in the No. 1 doubles match by Hannah VanDeventer and Carla Demeter, as well as the 2 doubles match by Quinn Reynolds and Everly Clark. Maddie Santner also secured a win in singles, propelling South to the final.

Meanwhile, North’s revamped lineup avenged their earlier defeat to Edgewood with standout performances from Hope Isbitts at 3 singles and Ingrid Pendergast and Ashley Stegemoller at 1 doubles. Despite a strong effort from Edgewood, North emerged victorious and secured their spot in the final.

In a separate semifinal at Linton, Owen Valley was defeated by Bloomfield, bringing an end to the Patriots’ season. The Cardinals will now face off against Sullivan in the final, promising another exciting matchup in the girls’ tennis sectional.