Red Devils win third straight sectional

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - West Lafayette faced Harrison in the sectional title match in girls tennis at Cumberland Tennis Courts on Friday night.

West Lafayette's one-doubles tandem of Paige Shiver and Cassie Anderson won the first match of the night in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

Harrison responded at two-doubles as Anna Ye and Caitlin Sullivan won in straight sets 6-1, 7-5 to tie the contest up at 1-1. West Lafayette's two-singles player, Sasha Sokolchik quickly picked up the 7-5, 6-2 win to give the Lady Red Devils the 2-1 advantage.

Harrison once again battled back at three-singles as Meghan Dinkel won 6-1, 6-3.

That placed all the pressure on the one-singles match between West Lafayette's Sarah Burns and Harrison's Lexington Eiler. Burns took the first set 6-3, but Eiler battled back to take set two 6-2. Burns jumped out to an early lead in set three and didn't look back as she finished off the match point with an ace to take the set 6-3. Burns' win gave West Lafayette the advantage and their third straight sectional title.

"It's great to win sectionals this year and it's our third year in a row and for me being a senior it was very important for us to win this year. There was definitely some pressure. Lexi is a great player and was fortunate to play with her in the offseason. I knew she was going to be tough but luckily it went my way," said Burns.

"It is really special. We had an 11 year drought where we hadn't won a sectional and to do what we have done now as a program is just unbelievable. For the girls to say taht they are sectional champions in three out of their four years means a lot," said West Lafayette's head coach Tim Wright.

West Lafayette will now travel to Kokomo to play in regionals on Tuesday.