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Marion tennis blanks Salem, Carmi

MARION - Over a span of two days, the Marion High School boys tennis team picked up two victories without losing a set.

On Tuesday, the Wildcats didn't lose a set in a 9-0 sweep of Salem on the road, then also blanked Carmi-White County by the same score Wednesday at the Crisp Sports Complex.

The win over Salem came after a long layoff.

"We had gone seven days without a match and the boys were ready to play," said Marion coach Carrie Watson. "It was the first time this season we played a match without any tiebreakers. Everyone stepped up and did what was expected."

Luke Motsinger was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Eric Brubaker at No. 1; Logan Holderfield rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Kegan Grimes at No. 2; Lucas Moake skunked Jared Beasley 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3; Dylan Motsinger cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Danny Smith at No. 4; Aaron Shelton dispatched Riley Donoho 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5; and Kaleb Jordan breezed to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Brennon Jeffords at No. 6.

In doubles, Moake and Dylan Motsinger blew past Brubaker and Grims 6-4, 6-0; Shelton and Jordan were 6-2, 6-2 winners at No. 2; and the duo of Caleb Flesch and Alex Gott won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3.

Then on Wednesday, Luke Motsinger, Holderfield, Moake and Dylan Motsinger all in the top four singles without losing more than one game. Jordan and Flesch were also straight-set winners after Flesch claimed a tiebreaker in his first.

"Another nice win," Watson said. "Shelton was out sick so we had to bring up Jordan to No. 5 and called up Caleb Flesch to play at No. 6 and we didn't skip a beat in the singles."

In doubles, Moake and Dylan Motsinger were 6-0, 6-1 winners. Holderfield and Jordan played together for a 6-3, 6-0 win and the duo of Jacob Reichert and Flesch won an 11-10 marathon with a late rally.

"We moved up Lucas and Dylan to prepare them for sectionals," Watson said, "and Jordan's partner was gone so we moved him up with Holderfield. They did a nice job moving as a pair with no varsity time together."

Marion plays in the South Seven Conference tournament on Saturday in Carbondale, then finishes the regular season Monday at home against Herrin. The postseason begins with the Herrin Sectional on Friday, May 17.

Marion's Lucas Moake prepares to return the ball across the net in recent match action. Justin Walker photo