Freshman Kira Kearsley’s win at No. 1 singles helped Edmonds-Woodway beat Shorewood Monday, April 28, and stay in the hunt for the Western Conference South Division title.
The Warriors (14-1) swept all four singles matches en route to a 5-2 win over Shorewood (8-4) at Shoreview Park in Shoreline. Edmonds-Woodway hosts unbeaten Jackson Friday, May 2. If the Warriors win, they can get at least a piece of the league title. The loss to Edmonds-Woodway ended Shorewood’s streak of three consecutive Wesco South championships.
Kearsley knocked off Shorewood’s Anna Chatilo 6-4, 6-2 to improve to 12-3 on the season. Chatilo beat her 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 the first time the two played.
“I think I just played pretty consistent,” Kearsley said. “I was pretty focused. I think we’re pretty evenly matched.”
Chatilo fell to 9-3 on the season.
“She was on today,” Chatilo said. “Last time I felt I was on my game.
While Kearsley and Chatilo split their matches, they both lost to Kamiak’s Elaine Baik who is undefeated.
Edmonds-Woodway’s Michelle Nelson beat Katie Strandberg at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-2.
“She’s started to play better in recent weeks,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Dan Crist said of Nelson.
The Warriors’ Amanda Waldron dispatched Michelle Beetham 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 singles to improve to 14-1 on the season.
Edmonds-Woodway’s Lauren Immel got past Sarah Oh, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.
Shorewood won its first match of the day at No. 1 doubles. MacKenzie Bang and Lisa Hamman defeated Lexi Miller and Sheridan Smalley, 6-4, 6-4.
“I thought today we played well together,” Bang said.
It was the second time the Shorewood duo, who are normally singles players, played doubles together this season.
“We’ve definitely found chemistry,” Hamman said.
Shorewood coach Arnie Moreno moved Bang, Hamman and Stephanie Lim, his No. 2 through 4 singles players to doubles for strategic reasons, which Wesco rules allow. He hoped Chatilo would beat Kearsley and the doubles teams would sweep to get a team win, but it didn’t work out. The other reason for playing Bang and Hamman together is that they are expected to be Shorewood’s No. 1 doubles team in the Wesco South Division and 4A District 1 tournaments.
Edmonds-Woodway’s Priscilla Huang and Allison Waugh beat Shorewood’s Ari McInnes and Lim 6-4, 6-2. McInnes and Lim, who Moreno expects to play doubles in the postseason, said it was their first time playing together and they just need more practice.
Shorewood also won the final match of the day. Christine Yang and Cecilia Jeong beat Sarah Fine and Sophie Roben 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 doubles.
Edmonds-Woodway last won a league title in 2001. Sara Allen and Deonna Hughes led the Warriors that year and took second at state in doubles. Allen and Hughes finish is the all-time best for an Edmonds-Woodway boys or girls tennis player or team.
Crist said he hasn’t decided what lineups he will use in the postseason.
“We’ll decide after the Jackson match and see what’s going on,” he said.
The Edmonds-Woodway match was the first of five matches for Shorewood this week because matches had been postponed due to weather. Shorewood plays at Jackson on April 30. A Thunderbirds’ win would help out Edmonds-Woodway.
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