The Vashon High School girls’ tennis team wrapped up its regular season with a win on May 5, entering the Nisqually league tournament with a final season record of 10-5.

The league tournament took place on May 12 on Vashon and the top two singles players and top two doubles teams from each Nisqually league school battled it out. The hot weather cooled just enough to make the day-long tournament bearable, but still challenging, and helped bring out a lot of people to watch the matches. Hosting the tournament was a boost for Vashon tennis, but also made for a busy day for head coach Lisa Brougham who had to run the tournament while coaching the Vashon entries.

In singles play, senior Sierra Richter had a long day, finishing four matches. Her hard work paid off with a fourth place finish in the league which allows her to advance to this week’s district tournament. Taryn Mulvihill, also a senior, had a slightly easier route, advancing nearly directly to the singles final. After a slow start in the final, Mulvihill rallied enough to make things interesting, but eventually finished in second place. The result was good enough for a trip to district and her fourth straight All-League team award.

In doubles, Vashon was represented by senior Emmaline Wittwer and sophomore Lizzie Maciejewski and by juniors Hannah Nelson and Yulia Falia. Both teams got off to a slow start, losing their first round matches. As a result, they were forced to play each other in a loser-out match. Wittwer and Maciejewski eventually prevailed, but Nelson and Falia played a great match, probably their best of the year, and really made them earn the right to advance. In the last match of the day, Wittwer and Maciejewski defeated a solid Cascade Christian team to finish league in third place and advance to the district tournament .

Ultimately, the Pirate team fared well in the tournament with three of their four entries moving on to the district tournament. The fourth team came close, but gained some valuable experience and ended their season on a high note, playing some of their best tennis.

The district tournament will be on Thursday, May 19, at Sprinker Tennis Center and should be another long, but interesting day of matches combining the top four Nisqaully entries with the top four Olympic League entries.

Only the top two singles players and doubles teams will advance from districts to the state tournament.

— Pat Mulvihill is the assistant coach of the VHS girls’ tennis team.