CULVER ― The top-ranked Carmel High School boys tennis team has faced many tests this season on the courts.
The undefeated Greyhounds have aced them all, including another one provided by No. 6 South Bend Saint Joseph Saturday, Sept. 20.
The pair of powers clashed at the fabulous Gable Tennis Center on the Culver Academies campus, with Carmel picking up a 4-1 win.
The Greyhounds, who were playing their fifth match in the past five days, improved to 15-0. The Huskies dropped to 11-2 with their only other loss also coming at Culver Academies to the No. 5 hosts by a 3-2 count on Sept. 13.
The two teams could see each other again back at CMA for the semi-state on Oct. 11. The pairings for the state tourney series are set for Monday, Sept. 29, and both teams will be heavy favorites to win sectional and regional championships. The semi-state matchups will be known when the draw is held.
Carmel, sporting three seniors its seven-man lineup, simply had too much for the Huskies. The Greyhounds lost 3-2 to Brebeuf in a regional semifinal match in 2024. Brebeuf went on to defeat Saint Joe, 5-0, in the state semifinals a season ago before winning the state championship.
The Huskies, who have just one senior in their lineup, picked up a win at No. 2 singles. Star sophomore Oliver Hix beat senior Andrew Kim 6-4, 6-2 in the final match to finish. Hix prevailed in the 2:15 minute match despite dealing with issues on the bottom of his feet. The match saw a short delay with Hix up 2-1 in the second set to get some treatment for his feet.
“I’ve got like blisters, or callouses or something on both of my feet,” said Hix. “I knew this was going to be a close match and a battle, but I expected to win in straight sets.
“I felt like I would outlast him. As the points got longer, he got tired. I came to the net too and that was a big part of it today. I feel like I’ve played good enough, but I can still be better. My ground strokes need to be more consistent.”
Carmel also owns wins this season over No. 2 Homestead, No. 3 Brebeuf, No. 4 Zionsville, No. 5 Culver Academies and No. 6 Guerin Catholic.
“My guys have been through the ringer this season,” said Carmel coach Daniel Brunette. “We’ve put them through the hardest tests we can with our schedule.”
Brunette was right to the point when asked if this was a statement match for his team, the prohibitive favorite to win a state title next month.
“Yes it was,” Brunette replied. “I have a lot of respect for the Saint Joe program. I’ve went against their girls’ teams more in the past. I think this was my second match versus their boys team. There was great fight on all five courts.”
The Greyhounds took a quick 2-0 lead with dominating doubles wins. Sophomore Jude Sangar and junior David Liu beat junior Ben Brady and freshman Jaxson Ashfeld 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1 to make it 1-0. Junior Rajeev Singh and sophomore Andrew Hall made it 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-2 win on the No. 2 doubles court over junior Cole Halfpenny and senior Noah Dobski.
Carmel, which beat CMA 5-0 Friday evening, clinched the win as senior Vishal Shankar topped junior Jack Mattison 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
St. Joe’s Jacob Hix put up a valiant effort on the No. 1 singles court. The junior dropped the first set to senior Wesley Worobel 6-2. He then trailed 5-2 in the second set before winning the final five games to post a 7-5 win and force a third set.
Hix then experienced cramping issues with both legs early in the final set as Worobel won 6-0. Worobel, who at times was visibly frustrated in the second set, remained undefeated on the season.
The Hix brothers, who led the team to an 18-2 mark in 2024, both are also extremely talented hockey players.
“The Hix brothers are gritty and the heart and soul of that team,” said Brunette. “Oliver has a huge tool set with his game and the No. 2 singles match was very physical. I think that Andrew was tired. I think this past week wore on him.”
Carmel has won 15 state titles, including in 2023 when they went 27-0. Worobel played No. 3 singles and Liu was part of the No. 2 doubles team on that state championship squad.
Third-year St. Joe coach Matt Halfpenny said the match was what he anticipated for the most part.
“In a sense, this is what we were expecting,” said Halfpenny, whose team graduated three players from its lineup of a season ago. “But you never really know. They are still kids. Both teams are very talented. I liked our focus today. I thought we had a good warmup and were in a good place to play this match.
“Oliver and Jacob always show up for us. They are just tough, hockey guys. Like I’ve said before, it’s a credit to their parents. It’s unfortunate that Jacob cramped up. The way the momentum had shifted after he won the final five games of that second set, I believe he wins the match if not for the cramping. He was in a good place. I credit him though. Some guys would have retired in that final set. With him, no way.”
Halfpenny knows the challenge in front of his team with the Greyhounds possibly looming again in just three weeks.
“We (myself and our team) have to figure out a way to get one more point against them,” Halfpenny said. “I’m very confident in our No. 1 and 2 singles players if we do see them again.”
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: IHSAA boys tennis Saint Joseph vs. Carmel result between ranked teams
