By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Defending SPSL 4A North Division girls tennis co-champion Mt. Rainier will depend upon an unusual combination when it competes this season.

"This is a bridge year," said long-time Ram head coach Tim Lee. "We have quite a few freshmen with potential to work with our experienced returning seniors."
Returnees are Anya Bonner (12), Svetlana Avanesyan (12), Alessia Pepe (11) and Ariana York (10). Newcomers are Leila Marie Martinez (12), Lena Lor (12), Ciera Crone (9) and Hayley Camp (9).

Bonner, Avanesyan and York were full-time varsity while Pepe has part-time varsity experience.

"We're already well bonded as a team," said Bonner. "The newcomers are already figuring it out. I'm more aggressive, although I still like to play mainly defensive and win rallies."

Improvements also are part of Avanesyan's make up.

"My serves are more consistent while I'm working on my volleys."

Junior player Pepe evokes team concepts.

"I would like us all to be a team and support each other 120 percent," she said.
On Wed., March 18, Mt. Rainier came out of the gate to win a 5-2 non league match at Seamount 2A Highline.

The Rams got off to a fast start the following Thurs. in a home non league 3-1 win against SPSL South Rogers of Puyallup which was making its first-ever appearance at Mt. Rainier.

Matches began before being briefly interrupted by rain showers under gray, cloudy skies.

When the courts dried out, action reconvened with the first two completed matches going strongly in the favor of Mt. Rainier.

Pepe strongly stroked by Lexi Dahl, 6-1, 6-0, in No. 2 singles for the first Ram victory.

"It was mostly baseline rallies," Pepe said. "I just stayed calm so I could get the victory."

In No. 1 doubles, Avanesyan and York got the best of Alyssa Silvernail and Jenny Chung, 6-2, 6-2, for the second MRHS match win.

"We identified a weakness of one of the players and tried to angle returns to a specific area," explained Avanesyan.

Her partner defined the strategy even more.

"We decided to go for the net, hit into the corners and at their feet," York said.

The Rogers Rams tightened up the proceedings when Olivia Kovacs and Brianna Huhmann broke a 4-4 tie to win a 6-4 first set en route to a second set 6-3 triumph in No. 2 doubles against Crane and Martinez.

As the skies clouded up more, Lor and Camp outlasted the tough tandem of Raven Olin and Jeimi Garcia, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, in No. 3 doubles to clinch the Mt. Rainier team match win in a 3-1 lead before the showers returned.

"I'm not usually a net player, but this time I went to the net more," said Lor. "Serves were consistent and so were service returns."

Anya Bonner led Chelsea Ruennel 4-1 in No. 1 singles before the returning rain showers rendered the courts too dangerous for continued action.