Meadowdale tennis partners inseparable, unbeatable

Published 11:30 pm Monday, May 11, 2009

LYNNWOOD — The partnership between Meadowdale’s Lianne Fijalka and Sara Portesan has produced an impressive string of accomplishments.

The senior standouts finished with a 15-0 regular season record last week. In those 15 matches, the duo dropped only one set. As juniors, Fijalka and Portesan advanced to the quarterfinals at the Class 3A girls tennis state tournament. The two also finished fourth at districts as sophomores.

Fijalka and Portesan, however, might not have become one of Meadowdale’s most successful doubles teams were it not for a quirk of fate.

On the afternoon of their first junior varsity match as freshmen, Portesan was set to play doubles with another player, while Fijalka wasn’t scheduled to play at all. But when Portesan’s partner got sick, Fijalka was tapped by junior varsity coach Mark Haeckel to fill in.

“We’ve been together ever since,” Fijalka said.

By the time Portesan’s original partner returned to the team several days later, it was decided that Portesan would stay partnered with Fijalka.

Though the Maverick co-captains could have split up and played singles at some point in their four years at Meadowdale High School, Fijalka and Portesan never seriously considered the option.

“Me and Lianne play so well together,” Portesan said. “I’m glad she stuck with me because I think I have done much better in doubles with Lianne as a partner than I could do in singles and I like the aspect of having a partner better. It’s nice to have someone bring you up when you’re feeling down.”

Fijalka also prefers the companionship and the strategy of doubles. A major part of her game is her net play.

“I just really like playing the net and I wouldn’t have that opportunity to play like that if I played singles,” Fijalka said.

That Fijalka and Portesan have remained partners since the start of their high school careers certainly isn’t the norm among most players in Meadowdale coach Mark Schneider’s experience.

“It’s not too common,” he said. “At some point you often see doubles teams split and become singles players. These two chose to stay as doubles partners.”

It’s also somewhat unusual that Fijalka and Portesan don’t play much tennis outside of the high school season. A few group lessons is the extent of their off-season activities.

Like most good doubles team, Fijalka and Portesan also have complementary skills. Fijalka’s net game matches up well with Portesan’s stronger serve.

“They move on the court together laterally and linearly,” Schneider said. “They don’t try to overhit the ball. They’re very smart and very controlled.”

When they were initially teamed up, Fijalka and Portesan knew of each other but weren’t friends. Four years of tennis has resulted not only in success on the court but a deep friendship.

“I’m really glad I met her through tennis,” Portesan said. “I don’t know if I would have been real close with her otherwise. … I’m really glad we met as freshmen and they paired us together.”

The friendship between Fijalka and Portesan definitely plays a role in their tennis success, Schneider said.

“They’re always together,” he said. “They know each other. Their communication and friendship off the court helps enhance their tennis game.”