Trojans top Woodmen to reach county final

<p>The biggest advantage that Center Grove’s girls tennis team has traditionally enjoyed over its county rivals has been superior depth.</p><p>That advantage came into play during Friday’s Johnson County tournament semifinal against visiting Greenwood. Though each side came in shorthanded, the Trojans had an easier time filling the void, and the state’s 13th-ranked team rode that edge to a 5-0 victory.</p><p>Center Grove will host No. 19 Franklin in the championship match on May 10.</p><p>&quot;It’s a Friday night, and they got here early and took care of business,&quot; Trojans coach Debby Burton said. &quot;I was proud of how they played and settled into their rhythm and did what they needed to do.&quot;</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Both teams were missing their No. 1 singles players, as Center Grove senior Ellie Strube and unbeaten Greenwood freshman Sophia Davidson have been shelved by the flu this week. </p><p>Sophomore Ashlee Fisk was the first one off the court for the Trojans, posting a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Emily Chatham. Senior Jillian Garrett followed minutes later with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph against Tori Graber.</p><p>Center Grove completed its singles sweep — and clinched the match — when sophomore Sonya Vyas, filling in for Strube, completed a 6-0, 6-2 win over Alexa Ashmore.</p><p>The closest match of the day came at first doubles, where the Greenwood duo of Maecee Terhune and Marissa Linville put up a good fight early on before falling to Center Grove’s Holyn Aukerman and Jenna Boha, 6-4, 6-1.</p><p>The Trojans’ No. 2 tandem of Abby Hoard and Sydney Plowman powered past Ally Hussung and Simi Kaur, 6-0 and 6-0.</p><p>Greenwood coach Jeremy Runge was proud of how his inexperienced squad battled through a tough day.</p><p>&quot;We’re young,&quot; he said. &quot;We’re going through, I don’t want to call it growing pains, but the strategy part we’re starting to get down a little bit better. But all in all, we compete, and that’s the only thing I can ask them to do. Center Grove, they’re just a good team. That’s really all there is to it; they’re good.&quot;</p><p>Burton expects a tough matchup with the currently undefeated Grizzly Cubs for the county title in three weeks.</p><p>&quot;They always put up a quality, well-coached team, and they’re going to come at us with everything they have and nothing to lose,&quot; Burton said. &quot;We’ve really mixed our lineup this year, and I think we’re starting to settle in and find our groove.&quot;</p>