Top-ranked Carmel shuts out Munster boys tennis team to end postseason run

CULVER | The tennis courts at Culver Academies dished out some hard lessons to Munster.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 9 in the state, ran into the Carmel buzz saw Saturday morning. The result was a 5-0 defeat that ended Munster's season with a trip to the Sweet 16 at Culver Academies Semistate.

The undefeated and top-ranked Greyhounds swept the Mustangs (18-2) in straight sets across the board. All three singles players for the Mustangs suffered 6-0, 6-0 defeats.

"We needed to play our very best to have a chance against a juggernaut like Carmel," coach Steve Lopez said. "The truth is we did not play our best today."

Lopez said that the team left from Munster 20 minutes late, which cut into their warm-up time once they got to Culver.

"I don't think we were ready, mentally or physically," Lopez said. "And I think it showed on the court and in the scores."

Ryan Heuer is the lone senior from the starting seven for Munster. He was reflective on his high school career after the season-ending loss.

"We made it to the final four three of the past four years," Ryan said. "This year, we made it to the final 16. As a team we have played some really great tennis over the last four years. I am proud of our accomplishments."

Ryan played a variety of singles and doubles positions for the Mustangs over the years, indicative of the team-first approach emphasized.

"We have great chemistry and camaraderie on this team," Ryan said. "Every player will move where needed and do what is best for the team. That's one of the great things about the guys I have played with over the years. All of them have been very unselfish."

Lopez said there was a silver lining for the team.

"We have six returners next year, and five of them will be seniors," Lopez said. "We talked after the match about the dedication that will be needed from everyone if we are going to be able to compete with the elite teams in the state."

The IHSAA realigned the postseason brackets this year. As a result, Munster faced Carmel in the semistate instead of the final four at Indianapolis, like they did last year.

Assistant Coach Bill Heuer was not a fan of the realignment.

"Many of the schools in the Indianapolis area spread out to other regionals and semistates," Bill Heuer said. "It's a big advantage to those schools, and a disadvantage to schools from up north like us. But you have to play the hand you're dealt."