Behind a sweep of the doubles matches, the Coupeville High School tennis team defeated visiting Lakewood 4-1 Wednesday, March 26.
“It was a strong showing all around,” said coach Ken Stange. “It felt good to get back in the win column after sustaining two beatings, especially since we have quite of bit of time before we compete again.”
The Wolves (1-1, 3-2) don’t hit the court again until Archbishop Murphy visits at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15.
Coupeville was powered by its winning doubles teams: 1, Samantha Martin/Sydney Aparicio, 6-3, 6-1; 2, McKenzie Bailey/Wynter Thorne, 4-6, 7-6(7-3), 10-6; and 3, Sydney Autio/Valen Trujillo, 6-1, 6-0.
In regard to Martin and Aparcio’s win, Stange said, “They pulled away from their opponents halfway through the first set, playing smart and consistent tennis and choosing the right opportunities to put the ball away.”
Stange labeled the pair as “Players of the Match” for their effort all season and match-clinching win Wednesday. Stange said that Martin was voted team co-captain along with Allie Hanigan by her teammates as well.
Thorne missed the last match because of an illness, still isn’t completely healthy and played when many others wouldn’t, according to Stange; and, to make matters worse, partner Bailey wasn’t feeling well either.
“They blew me away with how much focus and grit they showed,” he said. “They went for each and every ball and they wanted every point. They were driven.”
After making some adjustments suggested by Stange after the first set, Thorne and Bailey broke serve twice in the second set to force the tie-breaker before moving on to the win.
The duo of Autio and Trujillo, who never played together before, even in practice, displayed “good chemistry,” Stange said. “They were energetic and focused, and each seemed to know where the other was and what they were going to do.”
Coupeville’s fourth point came from Hanigan’s 6-0, 6-0 win in first singles.
Jacki Ginnings lost in second singles 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The Wolves also won four JV doubles matches: Ana Luvera/Ivy Luvera, 8-2; Haleigh Deasy/Maureen Rice, 8-5; Jazmine Franklin/Aura Corredor Lopez, 8-2; and Bree Daigneault/Trujillo, 8-0.
