BY JOE LIVARCHIK
jlivarchik@mi-reporter.com
Mercer Island girls tennis opened its 2016 season in sweeping fashion.
Two days after claiming a 7-0 win over Inglemoor, the reigning 3A champion Islanders scored another 7-0 victory over reigning 4A champs Newport on March 17 at Newport High School. Competing in the No. 1 singles spot, Sammy Sweet defeated Newport’s Teagan Mach 6-4, 6-0 for her second singles win of the season. Her sister Sarah Sweet won in the No. 2 singles match, beating Sally Kim 6-3, 6-3 to also claim her second singles victory of the season.
Miji Suhr won over Rachel Ye 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-6) and Kimia Preston defeated Rena Song 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles action, Caroline Hamilton and Chloe Gage beat Sonia Scallon and Jenna Hill 6-0, 6-0.
Fiona Brasfield and Caroline Harkins defeated Hannah Lee and Jesica Wang 6-2, 6-2, and Isabel Bolger and Josie Blakeslee won over Nicky Peterman and Melisa Zhang 6-2, 6-1.
Mercer Island coach Carol Gullstad said with the non-league meets, she appreciated the opportunity to tinker with her roster and have her players work on introducing different skills to their games.
“I’m just really proud of our players, they are doing what I’ve asked them to do in terms of incorporating what we talk about before each meet,” she said. “They’re really giving it a good effort to try and do that and not just go for what’s comfortable and tried and true, but build up their repertoire and their toolkit, which is important as you advance through the season.”
Newport coach Ross Eaton said his primary focus for non-league matches was to tune up his players and prepare for the beginning of KingCo competition. This year, Newport returns only five players from last season’s team, including state-returner Teagan Mach. But the Knights are still gunning for a top-two finish in the KingCo 4A standings.
Though the scores weren’t going their way against Mercer Island, Eaton was encouraged by the fight his players showed and the adjustments they made in between sets to keep competing.
“Our focus for match play on this team is if they just keep the faith and keep the fight going and make adjustments, then that’s a successful match,” he said.
