By NEIL PIERSON
Staff Reporter
In 2006, the Medical Lake girls tennis team was probably the most veteran group in the Great Northern League. In 2007, it's probably the youngest.
That's the situation head coach Dawn Eliassen is faced with after eight seniors graduated, including state singles participants Colleen Constantine and Kasumi Harada, and regular season doubles champions Rachel Lessard and Carrie Raby.
While Eliassen sees potential in her new crop of players, it'll take time for them to find their rhythm and confidence. That means a lot of shuffling, and the players will need to be flexible because most will try various singles and doubles positions throughout the year.
“With so many new players, we've got to find places for them to play where they're comfortable and where they're effective,” Eliassen said. “The lineup could change every single match until we find something that works.”
Senior Kaila Roberts and junior Ariel Aguado are the two returning varsity regulars. Roberts is probably the team's only sure bet to stay at singles all year, moving from the No. 3 spot to No. 2, and looks more refined than last season.
“She looks really good out there on the courts,” Eliassen said. “Her strokes just look mechanically better.”
Aguado played doubles last year, and though she began the season in singles, will shift back to doubles this week.
No. 1 singles duties early on fell to junior Ana Ayos, a transfer from Hawaii, though she'll also try doubles this week. Ayos has some solid training and Eliassen was complimentary of her technique. Sophomore Bri Bazo, a transfer from East Valley, also started the season at singles.
“Between she and Ana we've got a couple good recruits in,” Eliassen said.
Doubles will be in a state of flux, at least early on. Junior Libby Hoff, sophomores Megan Waldorf, Chelsea Dixon and Jessica McDaniels, and freshman Nissa Van Meter are all part of the mix.
“They're kind of rounding out our varsity ladder and they just need some experience,” Eliassen said. “Everything's new for them.”
Having seen spot duties at the varsity level last year, senior Makinzy Small should be a key piece of the puzzle regardless of where she plays.
“She's coming along,” Eliassen said of Small. “Makinzy's a hustler. She's really aggressive and she goes after everything.”
ML opened the GNL season last Tuesday against Colville, losing 6-1 to the visiting Indians.
At No. 2 singles, Bazo picked up the Lady Cardinals' only victory of the day with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Helen Nelson. Ayos lost a 1-6, 6-7 (4-7) decision to Brina Smith, Aguado lost 4-6, 6-3, 0-6 to Melissa Rhodehouse and Small dropped a 3-6, 4-6 final to Tanya Korchemnaya.
Waldorf and Dixon teamed up at No. 1 doubles and lost 0-6, 1-6 to Brittany Thompson and Martha Grove. McDaniels and Van Meter dropped an 0-6, 0-6 decision to Andrea Walston and Jessica House, while junior varsity call-ups Katy Reed and Heather Butler lost 0-6, 1-6 to Charity Thompson and Shelby Berg.
The Lady Cards fell to 0-2 in league play two days later, succumbing to the visiting Deer Park Stags 5-2. Roberts was a 6-2, 6-2 winner against Emily Rutt, while Bazo completed an undefeated week with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Robyn Best.
“The first impression of Bri is that she knows what she's doing out there,” Eliassen said.
Ayos played with more patience and confidence in her match with Desiree Hook, but lost 3-6, 2-6 because of Hook's relentless style. Aguado finished singles play by losing to Tiffany White, 4-6, 3-6.
Small and Hoff ran up against the defending district champions in Bailey Selle and Natalie Baydo, losing 1-6, 1-6. Waldorf and Dixon lost to Naomi Willis and Dominique Swenson (1-6, 2-6), and McDaniels and Van Meter fell to Kalyn Best and Sami Gatts (0-6, 3-6).
ML hosted its third straight GNL contest Tuesday afternoon against Riverside (results available next week). The team travels to Pullman Thursday and to Cheney next Tuesday before returning home on Thursday, March 29, against Clarkston.
Neil Pierson can be reached at npierson@cheneyfreepress.com
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