KENT- After days of exchanging strokes with the entire SPSL 4A girls tennis teams, Mount Rainier finished sixth out of 18 teams with a total of 19 points. Kentridge ran away from the field with 37 points.
Leading the way for the Rams was its West Central District doubles qualifying team of Shannon Wong and Alexis Gregerson.
Following an unbeaten path through the first two rounds of the SPSL tournament, Wong and Gregerson opened the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-1, defeat of the Rogers pair of Lindsey Jones and Loria Lee on Tuesday, May10.
Preparation for the match included more warm up time and pre-match discussion.
"We went to lunch and talked about our strategy," said Wong. "First, we warmed up with more minutes. Then, we just stayed relaxed."

Gregerson related the successful strategy.

"It was consistency," she said. "When we pulled them outside we put in some good shots down the alley."
Mount Rainier's quarterfinal match up required everything it could summon up in a three-set war that had the Rams prevailing, 7-6 (tiebreaker) in the first set against Peyton Protheroe and Karen Wentzke of Auburn in the heat of the warm sunshine.

Auburn's dynamic duo rebounded to annex the second set, 6-3, but Wong and Gregerson pushed up their level to control the deciding set, 6-2, thus qualifying for district.

"We had a good start," observed veteran Mount Rainier coach Tim Lee. "The doubles team played well and Jelena was gutty to stay in there so long."

On Thursday, Kentwood's Tess Manthou and Eliana Spero outlasted the Ram doubles duo 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in semifinal action. Wong and Gregerson won the first set of their the third/sixth seeding match 7-5 before Kyana Esber and Alissa Lee earned third place by capturing the next two sets, 6-1, 6-4.

Tahoma's Turek and Sierra Southworth earned the No.1 seed to district.

Jelena Stevanovic fought hard in girls singles before falling just short of a district berth.

Stevanovic powered through the first two rounds unblemished and opened the round of 16 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, three set win against Hannah Martinson of Rogers.

"I just focused because I wanted to win really badly," said the MR athlete. "I had to work on moving my feet."

Freshman Lauren Thornquist of Auburn sent Stevanovic into the consolation round with a 6-2, 6-2 win.

Stevanovic fell one win short of district when Rachel Venn of Kentwood won a three set struggle, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Mount Rainier's other singles entry worked hard, but encountered stiff opposition in her matches.

Shelby Sewright of Bethel dealt Katrina Stevanovic a 6-3, 6-0, defeat in the winners round. Venn then eliminated Stevanovic, 6-1, 6-3.

Katelyn Overland of Kentridge won the No. 1 seed to district out of the SPSL tourney.