The Vashon High School boys’ tennis team entered week five of its season last week with a 2-0 record and a no-decision in a match to be decided later.

The Pirates were looking forward to a nice four-day stretch of practices to work on various parts of their game and settle on a lineup prior to their second league match with Tacoma’s Charles Wright Academy. However, an early and stubborn rain pattern limited or canceled most of last week’s practice time. After the rain, beautiful weather moved in for the Friday home match against Charles Wright. The competition was the first home match for the Pirates and, as it turned out, their first loss of the season.

Vashon’s Hank Rogers played some great tennis, but couldn’t stop an excellent player from Charles Wright at number one singles. Meanwhile, the Pirates’ Italian exchange student Amadeo Gallina, continued his own win streak with a 6-3, 6-4 win at number two singles.

At number one doubles, Vashon’s team of Wyatt Keppler and Finley Oswald started slowly, but seemed to be battling back when they had to withdraw from their match due to an injury. Similarly, at number two doubles, Mason Rice and JJ Bogaard also started slowly, dropping the first set. They came back to win the second set, only to fall in a third set tiebreaker: 1-6, 6-4, 5-10.

In the final varsity match, the Vashon duo of Towner Anderson and Nelson Giorgini played together for the first time and lost to a more experienced Charles Wright number three doubles team: 2-6, 4-6.

The Pirates’ junior varsity teams also played well, but lost their three matches.

Despite the loss, the varsity team was upbeat and seems strong — Charles Wright is a very tough opponent and the Pirates played well against the Tarrier team. It was a good match for the team and its individual players to continue developing their games against high level competition.

The Pirates hosted Cascade Christian on Tuesday after press time and have a home rematch against South Kitsap at 10 a.m. Saturday.

— Pat Mulvihill is head coach of the Vashon High School boys’ tennis team.