Warsaw’s Colette Smith returns a volley Saturday against Valparaiso’s Alexis Orlich at the Warsaw Tennis Invitational. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – It was a full work day for eight teams at the Warsaw Tennis Invitational. Over eight hours of tennis had some of the premier teams in the state send its stars at one another, and when it was all said and done, Penn rose to the top of the hill.

Elkhart Memorial’s Krystal Grubb was champion of the one singles bracket.

Penn captured the team title with 23 points, fueled by three court championships. No. 3 singles Morgan Ludwig rose through the bracket to eventually beat Warsaw’s Ella Knight in the final 6-2, 6-4. Penn’s doubles teams also won titles, with No. 1 Amanda Ahmed and Emma Moon defeating Anisha Vavilala and Sara Ladd of Munster 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7), and the No. 2 team of Aliiya Bralick and Alexis Snelson taking care of Kelley Evans and Ak Flude of Valparaiso 6-2, 6-3.

Elkhart Memorial, which placed third overall, had No. 1 singles star Krystal Grubb win a marathon final against Munster’s Kaylynn Gruber 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9). No. 2 singles saw a potential foreshadowing of the Northern Lakes Conference tournament final when Memorial’s Taylor Freedline bested Warsaw’s Colette Smith 6-2, 6-4 in the championship.

Warsaw’s Liza Lewis at No. 1 claimed fifth place after an 8-4 win against Fisher’s Mia Switzer.

The Tiger No. 1 doubles team of Hannah Rice and Athena Schlitt were fourth, losing to Emma Gilliana and Kareen Billetter of Valpo 7-5, 6-1.

The No. 2 doubles team of Chelsey Farling and Rachel Boyle gave Warsaw a sixth-place finish, losing to Avery Murphy and Catherine Hutchison of Fishers 8-1.

Warsaw will jump into Northern Lakes Conference play Tuesday with a huge match at home against Plymouth.

1st Place: Penn 23
2nd Place: Munster 17
3rd Place: Elkhart Memorial 16
4th Place: Warsaw 13
5th Place: Valparaiso 11
6th Place: Fishers 8
7th Place: Homestead 7
8th Place: Merrillville 0

Final results are as follows:
#1 Singles:
1st & 2nd: Krystal Grubb (EM) def. Kaylynn Gruber (Munster) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9)
3rd & 4th : Tayla Brown (P) def. Rachel Crookston (V) 6-3, 6-2
5th & 6th : Liza Lewis (W) def. Mia Switzer (F) 8-4
7th & 8th : Natalie Steingass (H) def. Bethany Rochefort (Mer) 8-5

#2 Singles:
1st & 2nd : Taylor Freedline (EM) def. Colette Smith (W) 6-2, 6-4
3rd & 4th : Karolina Sroka (Munster) def. Ashley Justice (F) 6-0, 6-0
5th & 6th : Emma Baker (P) def. Alexis Orlich (V) 8-2
7th & 8th : Katie Stephens (H) def. Claribell Quinones (Mer) 8-3

#3 Singles:
1st & 2nd: Morgan Ludwig (P) def. Ella Knight (W) 6-2, 6-4
3rd & 4th : Kelli Caul (M) def. Vanessa Popescu (H) 6-0, 6-0
5th & 6th : Layla Jojo (EM) def. Sarah Jaeger (F) 8-2
7th & 8th : Julie Wappel (V) def. Mariah Jimenez (Mer) 8-4

#1 Doubles:
1st & 2nd : Amanda Ahmed & Emma Moon (P) def. Anisha Vavilala & Sara Ladd (Munster) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7)
3rd & 4th : Emma Gilliana & Kareen Billetter (V) def. Hannah Rice & Athena Schlitt (W) 7-5, 6-1
5th & 6th : Allison Fugate & Courtney Flint (F) def. Hannan Hakim & Maggie Dickerson (EM) 8-5
7th & 8th : Emily Sagstetter & Maddy Heiney (H) def. Erika McClinton & Emily DeCausmaker (Mer) 8-1

#2 Doubles:
1st & 2nd Place:  Aliiya Bralick & Alexis Snelson (P) def. Kelley Evans & Ak Flude (V) 6-2, 6-3
3rd & 4th Place: Anna Riggs & Melissa Fronczek (M) def. Gabby Meissner & Lauren Ottinger (H) 6-3, 6-1
5th & 6th Place: Avery Murphy & Catherine Hutchison (F) def. Chesley Farling & Rachel Boyle (W) 8-1
7th & 8 Place: Mackennize Williams & Molly McCollough (EM) def. Janae Williams & Jazlyn Martinez (Mer) 8-2

Warsaw’s Liza Lewis rockets a volley to Penn’s Tayla Brown.