Last week, the girl’s tennis team played at a District tournament after all but one doubles team advanced from the League tournament. The Pirates finished in a noteworthy 2nd place with one player, Lizy Maciejewski, moving on to State championships this Thursday.

Paisley Lieske, the team’s #2 singles player, ended the tournament in 4th place. During her final match, she played an uncomfortably close game with the Olympic League’s best player for 3rd place. Despite the outcome, the match was something to take pride in.

The team’s #1 doubles duo Tobin Vaughn and Lizzy Sutherland lost their first round, which exponentially decreased their chances of reaching the State championships. As they continued to play, they went head to head with fierce players. They fought hard but were unable to match or exceed the other team’s aggressiveness, ultimately leading to their 5th place standing.

The District tournament was positive for the Pirates, who ended up taking home a shiny new trophy to add to their case.

The girls’ tennis team finished off the year with a record of six wins and nine losses. The top of the varsity line-up was strong throughout the season, with increasing inconsistency as the lineup descended to 2nd and 3rd place singles. One struggle felt by the Pirates’ lower doubles pairs was finding the right partnerships. This became increasingly difficult as sickness swept through the team at least twice during the winter and spring. But as the season moved forward, and pairs became concrete, consistent wins were becoming apparent.

Coaches Lisa Brougham and Pat Mulvihill worked hard to make sure that players got not only individual attention, but time to learn how to work as a collective team. The Pirates made up a smaller team this year, which not only caused them to be closer to each other but to their coaches as well, who had more opportunities to give feedback. Additionally, the team had the added benefit of team manager Wyatt Keppler, a skilled tennis player and senior at Vashon Island High School.

“Having Wyatt as our manager was amazing, as he was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful,” said Brougham.

Unfortunately, since Wyatt Keppler is a senior, this would be his last year with the Pirates. But, he isn’t the only one leaving.

Once graduation rolls around, the Pirates will be saying goodbye to five of their six varsity players: Maciejewski, Sutherland, Vaughn, Emme Osborne and Chana Gefkovicz.

“The JV players will need to step up next year, as we will lose a lot of top varsity players,” said Mulvihill.

But coaches and players have confidence that they can build their team up again once the winter rolls around.

— Sequoia Gregorich