Vashon High School’s (VHS) boys tennis team is off to a strong start with, a 4-0 record in Nisqually League play.

Eatonville

The team’s first match of the season, on Sept. 7, was against Eatonville at home. VHS prevailed three matches to two, in a best-of-five format.

Because of the eligibility requirement of 10 practices, the team had a very young makeup, as some of the more experienced players had been out on vacation during early practices.

Starting at number one singles, freshman Henry Hughes had his initial high school match against an Eatonville opponent who was much older. Hughes eventually lost in straight sets 2/6-1/6.

Magnus Gautesen, also a freshman and in his first high school match, played second singles and eventually fell 2/6-4/6.

Finn Hawkins and Colt Holloway were victorious in their first match together, in the number 1 doubles position 6/2-6/2.

Avery MacLean teamed with first-timer Xan London-Chambers to score a one-sided win of 6/0-6/0.

Junior Lennon Hinz teamed with freshman Sage Stromberg to secure the team victory with a 6/2-6/1 winning effort.

Annie Wright

On Sept. 12, the Pirates traveled to Galbraith Tennis Center in Tacoma, to win 4-1 against Annie Wright Upper School for Boys.

The game scoring format was abbreviated to “no add” scoring due to the lack of court time available. In this type of scoring, the first point after 40/40 wins the game (sudden death).

Freshman Sevie Giller made his high school debut as singles player #1 and faced a very hard-hitting opponent in a protracted match — but eventually triumphed 7/5-6/4.

First-time singles player Jack Harvey, a senior, put forth an admirable effort as singles player #2 but eventually fell 4/6-3/6.

In doubles #1 play, Finn Hawkins and Colt Holloway teamed to secure a 6/3-6/3 win over their opponents.

In doubles #2 play, Avery MacLean and Magnus Gautesen, playing doubles #2, quickly bettered their Annie Wright opponents, 6/1-6/2.

Doubles #3 saw freshman Henry Hughes and junior Lennon Hinz dominate with a 6/0-6/0 scoreline.

Charles Wright Academy

Another home meet on Sept. 14, this time besting arch-rivals Charles Wright Academy 4-1, saw more players becoming eligible on both squads — but still not at full strength.

In singles #1, Sevie Giller ran into a strong and experienced senior and fought to a grueling 5/7-2/6 loss.

In singles #2, senior Jack Harvey put in a workman-like performance and came away with a 6/4-6/3 victory.

In doubles #1, Finn Hawkins and Colt Holloway experienced comebacks in both sets of this protracted 7/5-7/5 win.

Lennon Hinz and Xan London Chambers, playing doubles #2, took the first set routinely 6/2, and then managed to drop the second set 2/6. The 10-point tiebreaker was a nail-biter, with Vashon prevailing 10/8.

Henry Hughes and Sage Stromberg, playing double #3, bested their opponents with a 6/2-6/3 win.

Junior varsity players included Noah Read, Dash Palermo, Jacob Lawrence, Marshall Wade, Oskar CobbMaigetter, and Cassidy Meffre.

East Jefferson

On Sept. 19, Vashon traveled to play the East Jefferson team — an amalgam of players from Chimacum High School (CHS) and Port Townsend High School. Vashon prevailed with a 4-1 win in the match.

This away meet, on the four courts at CHS, took place in the wind. CHC has one senior, Reid Martin, who is the most complete player the Pirates have faced so far and who went to State last season in doubles.

In singles #1 play, Sevie Giller played Reid and lost 1-6, 1-6.

Quill Tegenfeldt-Pfroman played his first match of the season, in singles #2, with a 6-2, 6-2 win.

The double # 1 contest saw the reunion of VHS’s Finn Hawkins and Charlie Walker (who took third in State) racing out to a 6-0, 6-0 victory.

Jack Harvey and Colt Holloway, in their first doubles #2 teaming, scored a 6-0, 6-0 win.

Avery MacLean and Lennon Hinz continued the Pirates’ winning ways with a 6-0, 6-0 win.