These last couple of weeks have been full of energy and team spirit, as the Vashon High School tennis girls wrapped up their last two away matches and braced themselves for league matches this last Saturday.
On Wednesday, May 2, the Pirates traveled to an away match at Cascade Christian High School as the opposing team celebrated their last home match. The weather was sweltering hot, but the girls showed grit in each one of their matches. The team ended the day with a winning score of 4-1. The top singles players felt a little more comfortable in their wins as Lizy Maciejewski won 6-0, 6-2 and Paisley Leiske 6-4, 6-0. The varsity doubles were a little more challenging, as #1 doubles Tobin Vaughn and Lizzy Sutherland lost 1-6 in both sets, accompanied with close wins by the #2 and #3 doubles.
About a week later, on Tuesday, May 8, the Pirates went up against Charles Wright with whom they were tied within the league. The match started off with a losing streak and unfortunately maintained it throughout the rest of all varsity and JV matches. As the last varsity and JV matches were played, raindrops started falling. Instead of putting themselves out of their misery by ending the matches, the Pirates pushed through. Despite another couple of defeats, the scores were closer at the bottom of the lineup. #2 doubles Emme Osborne and Lauren Henley played out close sets, losing in a third set tiebreaker. #3 doubles Ava Butler and Ashley McArthur also played a hard-fought loss in a third set tiebreaker.
The match against Charles Wright was the last for the whole team and put an end to practice for the JV players. The team ended with a 6 and 9 overall record of wins to losses. But the season carried on for those in varsity preparing for the Nisqually League tournament on Saturday.
The league match put the Pirates, yet again, up against Charles Wright Academy girls. The tournament is elimination based, so if the Pirates were to lose their first match they would be out, but if they won, they would secure a spot in districts. Only the top four places advance.
The tournament was fun but tested the Pirates’ endurance and stamina.
“Both days of the tournament were very, very hot, and all of our matches were very long,” said team captain Lizzy Sutherland.
#1 doubles played a particularly exciting tournament. After winning their first match, Tobin Vaughn and Lizzy Sutherland played again, losing in the first set, turning it around to win in the second, and finally losing in a third set tiebreaker at 8:30 p.m.
As for the rest of the team, they showed a great amount of skill and improvement. Lizy Maciejewski placed 2nd in singles and Paisley Leiske placed third after beating her rival player in a third set tiebreaker. Lauren Henley and Emme Osborne just barely missed the cut for districts with fifth place doubles.
After a successful run at the league tournament, four Pirates will be playing at Sprinker for districts on Wednesday and Thursday.
