So far so good for Edmonds-Woodway’s girls tennis team.
Experience along with a freshman standout have enabled the Warriors to win their first six Western Conference South Division matches. Edmonds-Woodway was scheduled to face archrival Shorewood in what would be one of its stiffest challenges of the season but on both occasions the match had to be postponed due to rain.
The Warriors are ahead 2-1 with the match rescheduled for Thursday, April 10, weather permitting.
Edmonds-Woodway returned two of the top singles players in the league in sophomores Michelle Nelson and Amanda Waldron. Nelson and Waldron played doubles in the postseason, finishing second at the league tournament and fourth at the districts. The two currently are the team’s No. 2 and No. 3 singles because of the arrival of Kira Kearsley.
The Edmonds-Woodway freshman currently is 5-2 at No. 1 singles.
“She has a lot of potential,” said Edmonds-Woodway coach Dan Crist. “She’s a baseline player. She has good strokes, solid strokes. She’s real consistent overall.”
The Warriors’ doubles lineup also is solid with the return of junior Sheridan Smalley and senior Lexie Miller. The two have been partners since their arrival at Edmonds-Woodway.
Smalley and Miller’s experience is their biggest asset, said Crist, who noted the two have known each other since they were kids.
The Warriors have relied on both their singles and doubles lineups to pull out victories this season.
“We’re pretty balanced,” Crist said. “Against Kamiak our doubles carried us. It seems like the teams at the top (of the league) all have real strong singles players. It’s how you match up.”
Here is a look at the other three Edmonds District teams.
Lynnwood
The Royals have yet to crack the win column but have had some individual successes.
All four singles players are fairly equal in ability but junior Kelsey McCartney currently occupies the No. 1 slot. Behind her at seniors Lauren White and Jessica Choi and junior Becca Magnanet.
“They’re all pretty close,” Lynnwood coach Jim McKinnon said. “We don’t have any super standouts.”
The Royals top doubles teams are senior Ariel Higerra/junior Tory Vanduin and senior Katie Weaver/junior Holly Anderson.
“We’ve getting better every match,” McKinnon said.
Meadowdale
The Mavericks are 4-3 in league play, which comes as a pleasant surprise to coach Mark Schneider.
“My team is young and still gaining experience,” he said. “I’m happy with how we’re doing.”
The experience Meadowdale does have is at top of their lineups. Senior Brianna Dyson is the No. 1 singles player and junior Lianne Fijalka and junior Sara Portesan are the No. 1 doubles team. The Mavericks also have a solid No. 2 doubles team in junior Erica Landa and junior Maya Rahkonen. The No. 3 doubles team consists of senior Stephanie Shek and senior Nina Yi.
“I’ve got a really strong doubles lineup,” Schneider said.
Mountlake Terrace
The Hawks have to overcome their inexperience if they want to have more success than they’ve had so far, according to coach Gigi Johnson.
“We’ve got a lot of young players,” she said. “We need some more practice.”
Mountlake Terrace’s singles lineup is in flux with no clear standouts yet. The four slots have been held by Teryn Bouche, Haley Reutimann, Ann Truong and Lexi Juretich.
“I’m still mixing them around,” Johnson said.
Sarah Binder and Molly Erickson are the Hawks’ No. 1 doubles team.
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