PREVIEW: No.11 Girls' tennis opens 2021 campaign with week-long homestand

By Keelen Barlow

No.11 Brownsburg kicks off its long-awaited 2021 campaign with five home events over the next seven days. Westfield pays the Bulldogs a visit tomorrow April 13 as Brownsburg opens their season against the Shamrocks. 

The 2021 Bulldogs 

Brownsburg enters 2021 with a wealth of new faces after the cancellation of the 2020 season. The Bulldogs have a young core under fourth-year head coach Spencer Fields and the largest group of players since Fields took over. 

Sophomore Ava Allen and freshman Hannah Schwab are set to lead Brownsburg in their inaugural high school campaigns. Junior Evelyn Cougill and senior Marisa Petrunich will bolster the group and add varsity experience to the Brownsburg lineup this season. 

Petrunich, who is commited to play tennis for Ohio Northern University, Erin Campbell, Grace Thomas and Shelby Allen respresent the 2021 Bulldog seniors. 

Preseason Accolades 

The Bulldogs came in at No.11 in the preseason Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTECA) top-30 poll. Brownsburg is one of five Hoosier Crossroads Conference teams to make the top-30. The ranking comes after Brownsburg was slotted in the No.18 spot to close the 2019 tennis season. 

Brownsburg is also ranked No.3 in the IHSTECA Disctrict 5 poll, behind No.2 Avon and No.1 Terre Haute South. 

2021 Slate 

Brownsburg's 2021 slate features a challenging group of opponents including seven teams currently ranked in the IHSTECA top-30 poll. Brownsburg is also set take on five of the top-8 teams in their own district. 

No.13 Center Grove, No.6 Terre Haute South, No.18 Zionsville and No.19 Fishers will pay a visit to Brownsburg. The Bulldogs travel to No.5 Hamilton Southeastern, No.10 Avon and No.30 Plainfield this year. 

Brownsburg will also compete in their home invitational April 17 and the Park Tudor Invitational, hosted by the No.1 ranked Panthers, April 24. The 2021 Hoosier Crossroads Conference Girls' Tennis Championship is set for May 6 and May 8 at Fishers High School. 

The Week Ahead 

The Bulldogs are set host HCC foes Westfield, No.19 Fishers and Noblesville as play gets underway this week. A home contest with No.13 Center Grove April 14 and the Brownsburg Invitational April 17 are also on the dockett. 

All home matches, including the Bulldogs' season opener against the Shamrocks, are set for 5:30 p.m. The Brownsburg Invitational will get underway at 10 a.m. 

Up Next 

Brownsburg travels to Franklin Central for their first road contest of the season April 22.