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Central sisters Zoee, Sydnee Robinson to make school history in IHSAA tennis state finals

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Central sisters Zoee, Sydnee Robinson to make school history in IHSAA tennis state finals

EVANSVILLE — Zoee Robinson and her younger sister Sydnee ran over and hugged each other. It was hard for them to believe what they had just done.

The No. 1 doubles team from Central High School played an intense two-and-a-half-hour match against a duo from New Albany in last weekend’s IHSAA regional at Bedford North Lawrence. They blazed out the gates in the first set but then “took a nosedive” in the second. Still, the Robinsons fought tooth and nail and went on to win the final set to clinch their tickets to state.

They will become the first Central girls duo to play for an IHSAA state title this weekend at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

Not bad considering this is their first year together in No. 1 doubles.

IHSAA girls tennis: How Central’s girls pulled together this spring after storms damaged its courts

“It’s really exciting and very surreal, especially being with my sister,” said Zoee, a senior. “It doesn’t seem like it’s happening.”

“I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else,” added Sydnee, a junior. “I was just really proud that I did it for Central.”

Central coach Cory Sills first got to know the Robinsons when he coached them in cub soccer and tennis. Their relationship has blossomed ever since.

He finds their mental tenacity and aggressiveness as the best parts of their game. They’re reserved on the court but aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zones. They’re the first to criticize themselves and always seek out answers on how to improve.

“They’re extremely competitive and great teammates,” Sills said. “It’s a lot of fun to have them as a doubles team in this program.”

Zoee has played doubles since middle school, but Sydnee didn’t start until joining Central. While going from No. 2 to No. 1 doubles was a major adjustment for Sydnee, she found the transition easier because she was with her sister.

It’s been quite the season for the Bears since they were left devastated by storm damage to the school’s courts in April. But the Robinsons’ confidence as the top doubles pair skyrocketed after winning their first match against Mater Dei. They fondly remember beating the Wildcats two more times this season, as well as their home debut against Bosse on Senior Night.

“As we went along through the season, things started clicking,” Sills said. “And it didn’t come naturally in the beginning. But now this is the culmination of all of that kind of coming together for us.”

There’s an all-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference affair brewing as the Robinsons (15-2) prepare to face Jasper’s Paige Giesler and Reese Mundy (24-2) in the quarterfinals on Friday at 1 p.m. CDT. If this weekend is going to mark the final competitive match Zoee plays with Sydnee, it would mean the world to them to win a championship.

“That’s the one thing that I’m looking forward to is just winning state and making our name (and Central’s) known,” Sydnee said. “That’s just what I want to do is represent Central.”

Girls tennis in Southwestern Indiana has thrived at the state finals in recent years after area doubles pairs have clinched championships in two of the last three seasons. Undefeated Washington junior Lacy Hancock (27-0) also looks to take home the area’s first individual title since Memorial’s Ellie Myers won in 2022.

The Robinsons embrace joining that conversation and potentially etching their names in the record books.

“The competition in this area is definitely really hard,” Zoee said. “And I think because of the competition, it’s helped prepare us to get us to state. Because of how good everyone is, it’s made us better.”

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