By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
TUKWILA - Defending SPSL 2A girls tennis champion Foster opened its season with a nonleague 6-1 loss to visiting 2A Sammamish (Bellevue) of the KingCo League on Thurs. afternoon of March 15.
In a relatively low pressure, high experience situation under spring-like, sunny skies, the teams played under special rules to attain their goal of completing four singles matches and three doubles matches.
No ad points were played. When the games reached deuce, the winner of the next point earned the game.
In addition, singles matches featured the receiving player after deuce having the choice of which side on her end of the court she be in to receive.
"We were missing Aivy Nguyen (a state player last year) and another player that was not an experienced varsity player, but who would have played varsity doubles," said Bulldog head coach Soap Ngeth. "It wasn't our best line up, but it's all good. There was a chance to give players more work than in practice."
Sidney Lank gave the Totems a 1-0 match lead by out stroking Kristina Te, 6-0, 6-0, in No. 3 singles before last season's state third place finisher Ana Rios returned fire for the Bulldogs in a 6-0, 6-1, blitz of Nina Vonsaly in No. 1 singles.
"I've improved my forehand and am looking to get into the (state) finals this year," she said.
Suki Kaur of Foster improved her play in the second set, but still fell to Roxy Dadvar, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 4 singles.
Monita Keo fought her best before Sammamish player Katrina Kuntz took a 6-2, 6-2, No. 2 singles victory.
Next up was a 6-0, 6-0, Riley Antony and Aisha Musy No. 3 doubles win against the Bulldog pair of Susan Nguyen and Vivian Ly.
In No. 2 doubles, CC Huerta and Eliza Escarez were too strong for the Foster tandem of Rizza Sanoy and Zavannah Ferrer, 6-0, 6-1.
Megan Shi and Tyss Crilly closed out the matches with a 6-1, 6-1, No. 1 doubles triumph against the Bulldogs' Midori Rollins and Karen Vo.
The Foster pair exchanged groundstrokes well and were often just one point away from winning game points.
This season's edition of Foster girls tennis will not be like last season's juggernaut that went unbeaten in winning the SPSL 2A Mountain division before claiming the SPSL 2A tournament title, but will still merit attention.
"We'll be fighting for the top, but won't be dominant like last year," concluded Ngeth. "We lost four players to graduation and now have eight players without previous varsity experience."
