The Oak Harbor tennis team will lean on its singles players to guide the team this spring.

The Wildcats return nine letter winners, including two of last year’s top singles players, junior Tamia Rios and senior AnnaBelle Whitefoot.

Rios most likely will play first singles, according to coach Horace Mells, and Whitefoot will return to the No. 2 spot she held last year.

Whitefoot had a surprising postseason run in 2015, finishing third in the division singles tournament (which earned her a first-team, all-league slot) and fourth at district.

Other than No.1 and No. 2 singles, the remainder of the lineup is still undecided, according to Mells.

Senior letter winners Lauren Aspery and Marie Elma Empinado and junior Emma Lerch are among those being considered for either singles or doubles action.

Senior letter winners Ria Bains, Julia Smith and Brianne DeGuzman and junior Aelizah Espiritu will likely play doubles.

Newcomer junior Payton Carlson could possibly hold a singles spot.

Other newcomers — juniors Emily Brown, Chante Powell, Sarah Smith and Daria Higman; and sophomores Emma Wezeman and Madeleine McKenzie – are doubles candidates, according to Mells.

“Our strength is definitely in singles,” Mells said. “Our weakness will be in doubles while the first-time varsity players are learning the style of play and gaining familiarity with their partners.”

Oak Harbor placed fourth in the Wesco North (4-6) last year and finished 5-10 overall.

“Our goals and expectations are to finish within the top three of Wesco North 3A, win at lease 10 of the 16 matches and advance at least one singles player and one doubles team to districts,” Mells said.

The Wildcats start the season by playing five matches in six school days. First up is a trip to South Whidbey at 3:30 Monday, March 16, followed by a 3:30 p.m. home match with Lake Stevens Tuesday.