AUBURN - On the heels of a fine SPSL 4A North 8-2 second place regular season, the Mount Rainier girls tennis team reiterated and in some ways empowered itself more at the 2013 SPSL 4A sub-district tournament held at Auburn Riverside High School.
Following Monday, May 6, action the Tim Lee-coached Rams held a clear second place total of 31 points behind sub-district champion Thomas Jefferson's 40 based on the strength of its singles players while also qualifying personnel to the West Central/Southwest Washington bi-district tournament scheduled for May 17-18 at the Capitol City Court in Olympia.
Beginning with the round of 16, the Rams brought the fire to the well warmed courts with junior Kristana Stevanovic, senior Tajana Vujic and sophomore Anya Bonner.
For beginnings, Stevanovic stroked by Mari Bolkvadze of Puyallup, 6-1, 6-0, but was then sent into the consolation round, 6-0, 6-0, by eventual champion Lauren Thornquist of Auburn. The top Ram player then rebounded to capture a 6-0, 6-3, two-set victory against the Puyallup Vikings' Anna Flury to reach the consolation semifinals where she earned the No. 4 seed to bi-district in a rugged three-set affair against Aly Siemion of Auburn.
Stevanovic annexed the first set, 6-3, before her opponent reversed the momentum in a 6-1 second set win. In the third set, Stevanovic once again shifted into high gear for a 6-3 triumph. Narrows No. 3 Mina Craig of Olympia will be her first bi-district opponent in a May 17 8:15 a.m. match.
Siemion gave Vujic a 6-2, 6-4, defeat before Vujic posted a 6-4, 6-3, decision against Coco hernandez-Tague of Thomas Jefferson. Jessica Lam of Kentridge defeated Vujic, 6-3, 6-1, but the Mount Rainier athlete overcame Bolkvadze, 6-0, 6-2, and earned the ninth SPSL seed into bi-district by eliminating Flury. No.1 Narrows seed Kaitlyn Skjonsby of South Kitsap awaits Vujic on Friday, May 17.
Bonner fell just short in her bid for bi-district placing. Thomas Jefferson's Michelle Lee dominated Bonner, 6-1, 6-0, to send the resilient Ram into treacherous waters. Chelsea Rueppell of Rogers (Puyallup) forced a struggling Bonner into the ropes after a 6-love first set pummeling. Bonner regrouped strategically and mentally to bring home the win in 6-1 and 6-3 set wins. Siemion allowed Bonner little breathing room in a 6-2, 6-0, defeat of the Ram athlete in the next match. Next came Flury to short-circuit Bonner's bid for bi-district, 6-1, 6-3, on the way to be eliminated by Vujic.
Two Mount Rainier tandems ventured into the super tough doubles competition.
Seniors Beverly Crock and Grace Hilsen initiated their round of 16 by defeating Bethel's Gunderson and Berner, 6-0, 6-2. Jenny Hoefel and Kiele Bowman of Todd Beamer stopped the Ram pair's progress, 6-2, 6-3. Nichelle Song and Gloria Oh of TJ went three pulsating sets before upending Mount Rainier, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Crock and Hilsen survived Abbie Clements and Ariana Bovenkamp of Puyallup, 6-4, 6-0, to earn a shot at the ninth and final seed to sub-district.
Madie Wright and Alex Boyle ran aground, 6-0, 6-0, against Hoefel and Bowman in their opener of the round of 16 before winning against Gundersen and Berner of Bethel. Eventual No. 4 bi-district seeds Toni Mullen and Rileigh Qualls defeated Wright and Boyle, 6-4, 6-4, but Wright and Boyle stayed in the hunt by pushing past Katie Simpson and Abby Kocks of Graham Kapowsin. 7-5, 7-6, setting up a seeding showdown with teammates Crock and Hilsen. It was Crock and Hilsen prevailing, 6-3, 6-2. This Mount Rainier duo opens bi-district at 9:45 a.m. on May 17 against Bautista and Robinson of Olympia.
