The Vashon High School girls' tennis team is sending one doubles team and a single to the tri-district tournament at the Amy Yee Tennis Center in Seattle on Thursday, where they'll be playing for a chance to head to State.

Players advancing are VHS senior Catherine Amick and junior Victoria Zaknich, No. 1 in doubles for the league, and senior Alex Wall, No. 2 in singles, Grimsley said. Molly Johnson can gain a third-place entry if she wins a pigtail match — an extra bracket used when the regular bracket is full — in Coupeville.

The girls landed spots in the tri-district tournament after winning matches at the Nisqually League tournament  Wednesday and Thursday at Charles Wright. An eight-card draw tournament was played with teams from Cascade Christian, Charles Wright and Vashon, according to tennis coach Eva Lou Grimsley.

Three singles and three doubles were entered from each school, with the first- and second-place winners guaranteed a spot in the tri-district tournament. Third-place finishes necessitated a play-off for entry. The tournament began with two pigtail matches to accommodate the full draw sheet.

Grimsley said she felt good about the girls' success, especially since they were competing against Charles Wright, where many of the players take private tennis lessons.

"Our league is extremely hard," she said. "It's an honor to be able to advance."

 

Contact Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Editor Leslie Brown at editor@vashonbeachcomber.com or 1-206-463-9195.

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