NEW ALBANY – New Albany swept the doubles and won a key singles tiebreaker to close out Bedford North Lawrence 3-2 during boys high school tennis action in the Hoosier Hills Conference semifinal on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs advanced to the championship match to face the Floyd Central-Jeffersonville winner.
New Albany’s Ben Seigel and Blaine Hamilton cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Drew Stephenson and Neal Patel at No.1 doubles. Sarosh Chaudhary and Brenton Hamilton topped Gavin Baker and Jackson Corey 6-0, 6-4 at No.2. The outcome then hinged on No.1 singles, with Sam Seigel winning a second-set tiebreaker to fight off BNL’s Jayden Kemp 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
“It was a battle and I’m really proud of the way all of our guys competed,” BNL coach Chris Kurtz said. “The match came down to Jayden and he did everything he could do, just came up a little short.
“In the second set he was down 5-4 before winning the next two games to take the 6-5 lead. Ultimately it went to tiebreaker and he just wasn’t able to pull it out to force a third. But he was relaxed and free with his strokes, which created a lot of problems for his opponent.”
The Stars broke through in the lower singles. Orion Hill handled Caleb Bradshaw 6-2, 6-1 at No.2, while Isaac Bridges bounced Asher Chaudhary 6-4. 6-1 at No.3.
BNL (7-12) will visit the Floyd Central-Jeffersonville loser in the consolation match on Friday.
HOOSIER HILLS CONFERENCE
Semifinal round
NEW ALBANY 3, BNL 2
Singles
1 Sam Seigel, NA d. Jayden Kemp 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
2 Orion Hill, BNL d. Caleb Bradshaw 6-2, 6-1
3 Isaac Bridges, BNL d. Asher Chaudhary 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1 Ben Seigel and Blaine Hamilton, NA d. Drew Stephenson and Neal Patel 6-1, 6-1
2 Sarosh Chaudhary and Brenton Hamilton, NA d. Gavin Baker and Jackson Corey 6-0, 6-4
