Despite two comeback wins, the Coupeville High School tennis team lost is season opener 5-2 at South Whidbey Thursday, March 19.

“Overall, I was happy with our first match,” coach Ken Stange said. “Our next match is against Klahowya, a league opponent. South Whidbey made an ideal first opponent, in my opinion, because they are probably one of the two most difficult teams we will face this season, Charles Wright Academy being the other.

“Now, our players can take the lessons from match one and apply them for the next few practices.”

The Wolves (0-1) host Klahowya (1-1) at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 26.

Against South Whidbey, Coupeville picked up individual wins in first singles and third doubles. In both cases, the Wolves dropped the opening set and then stormed back to win big in the next two.

Jacki Ginnings won 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in first singles.

The two-and-a-half hour match was closer than the score, Stange said.

After the first-set loss, Ginnings “turned it around, pushing her opponent from side to side, eventually forcing her into unfavorable positions,” Stange said.

“There were quite a few 20-plus shot points,” he added.

With the effort, Ginnings received the Player of the Match award, Stange said.

In third doubles, Sydney Autio and Valen Trujillo won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

“After a difficult first set, Valen and Sydney didn’t look back, dominating the final two sets,” Stange said. “They played with power and aggression and were also able to turn the normally defensive lob into an offensive weapon.”

Payton Aparicio and Sage Renninger, a pair of freshmen competing in their first match, played the day’s closest match, losing 5-7, 5-7 in first doubles.

In both sets, the duo led 5-4 before the Falcons came back.

“It was a bit of baptism by fire,” Stange said. “They played with remarkable skill and composure, especially considering that they were up against a pair of experienced players. These two have a bright future.”

Ana and Ivy Luvera lost a three-set match in fourth doubles. After falling 6-2 in the opening set, the twins recovered for a 6-1 win in the second but lost 6-2 in the third.

In second and third singles, Micky Levine lost 6-0, 6-2 and McKenzie Meyer lost 6-2, 6-0.

McKenzie Bailey and Wynter Thorne dropped second doubles 6-1, 6-3.

Coupeville won three of the four JV matches: Bree Daigneault/Jazmine Franklin, 6-4; Ashley Smith/Kameryn St. Onge, 6-4; and Maggie Crimmins/McKenzie Meyer, 6-4.