Eastern Girls' Tennis Claims First Tennis Sectional Crown in School History

By Dennis Dunn

The team after beating Floyd Central, 5/21/25.

Finally!

The Eastern Girls' Tennis Team can use that word as they were able to claim their first ever tennis sectional title in school history.

“It is very special and surreal to say that this team won the very first sectional in Eastern Tennis,” said Eastern Coach Ame Hein.

This sectional crown has been a long time coming, especially since Floyd Central has been the dominant team in this sectional for many, many years. The Musketeers defeated the Highlanders 3-2 in their first round of tennis sectional on Wednesday, May 21 to end their run of 23 consecutive sectional titles.

“Every year we know someone is going to have to play Floyd Central,” Hein said about the pairings. “I also knew I had a really talented team this season. I honestly had just been talking with someone about who I would like to play first.

“I said that it would be cool to get Floyd and knock them out but I didn’t know exactly how their team had been doing this season, so I also wouldn't want to be knocked out first round. Once we did draw them, I felt my team had a chance to beat them but they would need to be on their game.”

The Musketeers claimed their wins over the Highlanders at No. 1 singles in Sidney Burton, No. 3 singles in Brooke Schear and No. 1 doubles of Anna Dupin and Eliza Starrett.

“When Eastern got the last point against Floyd confirming our win, everyone was of course super excited but we were also kind of quiet,” Hein said. “I immediately gave my assistant coach a huge hug, and then went to shake their coach’s hand. I think we were too stunned to be loud, but I knew in the back of my mind that we still had another match to play, which now almost adds more pressure.”

The Musketeers then defeated Borden 3-2 on Friday, May 23 to claim the championship.

The Musketeers No. 1 doubles tandem of Dupin and Starrett claimed the first point against the Braves. The Musketeers No. 2 doubles would capture the second point of the evening, so with the scored tied a 2-2, No. 1 singles player Burton would put the team over the top with her win.

After beating Borden, 5/23/25

“Yes, we still needed to play the next night against Borden who had beaten us 3-2 just a week or two earlier so that was the pressure I mentioned earlier,” Hein said after beating FC. “We lost to Borden, beat Floyd Central, and now we needed to beat Borden. Again my team needed to bring their “A” game.

“Tennis is a complicated sport in that it’s a team sport but it’s also an individual sport. Everyone goes out to win for themselves and for the team.  My No. 1 singles player had gone undefeated all season, so she is definitely a player I could count on to get us a point to win. I also knew I had a really strong No. 1 doubles team that has had a really nice record so far as well.

“First night of sectionals my No. 3 singles played a really nice match winning that third spot for us. The second night against Borden my No. 2 doubles stepped up their game going into a third set. On top of losing to Borden earlier in the season, they came back ready to take them on.”

After claiming their first sectional crown, the bar to repeat has been raised. A positive they can take from this is the fact they will return everyone from this year’s team.

“That is also a wonderful thing about this season, I do not have any seniors,” Hein said. “I get to keep them all for next year and I gain three of four eighth graders coming up. So I am pretty excited for next year as well.  This team has a lot of natural athletic and tennis talent, plus the drive for success. I appreciate the hard work the girls have put in over the next few years.”

Silver Creek ended the Musketeers season at regional with a 3-2 win.