By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Rust, weather and fatigue proved to be just as much challenges for the Cheney High girls' tennis team last week as their human opponents. The Blackhawks went 1-2 in match play, losing a pair of Great Northern League matches to West Valley and East Valley in between downing Rogers out of the Greater Spokane League in non-league play.
Rust from the spring break layoff likely played a part in Cheney's loss to West Valley, 5-2, in their first match back last Tuesday. The Blackhawks' wins came at No. 3 singles where Maria Cruz beat Nikki Langford in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 while the No 1 doubles team of Melissa Jamison and Michelle Celone overcame a brief hiccup in the second set to down Brittany Hunter and Veronica Dederer 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
In other singles action Abi Smith lost to Erin Gracyalny 4-6, 2-6 at No. 1, Holly Passey lost to Dru Sanchez 1-6, 1-6 at No. 2 while Mary Floyd fell to Courtney Wold 2-6, 0-6 at No. 4. In doubles, Cheney's No. 2 team of Holly West and Liz Gill lost to Jacqueline Swanson and Kym Conger, 4-6, 4-6 and Kiyanna Dickson and Melia Winters lost to Ashley Wilhelm and Katie salmon 4-6, 1-6 at No. 3.
“Overall there were a few places we need to improve, but the girls made me proud,” Blackhawks head coach Corey Anderson said.
Wednesday the Cheney girls endured wet courts and persistent rain, thanks partly to the Rogers head coach who Anderson said insisted they get the match in, to down the Pirates 5-2.
Smith finally found a way to get by Kasiet Omuralieva in a two-plus hour match at No. 1, winning 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 10-7. At No. 2 Passey lost a close match to Sadie Slawter 7-5, 3-6, 8-10 while Celone lost to Mariah Edwards 4-6, 5-7, with Cruz beating Lana Ialanji 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4.
In doubles Jamison and Gill teamed to shutout Tia Washburn and Carley Burns, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1; West and Dickson got by Tori Thompson and Kim Ngug Nguyen 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 with Floyd and Linnea Kissler winning in three sets at No. 3.
“Melissa and Liz played awesome together, totally dominating the net,” Anderson said. “Also Abi Smith played out of her mind awesome in terrible playing conditions.”
But three matches in three days proved too much for Cheney, especially against a good East Valley team on Thursday where the Knights handed the Blackhawks a 6-1 loss.
Celone collected Cheney's only win, beating Nikki Roemer in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4. Both Smith and Passey lost a couple close singles matches, with Smith falling 6-7 (5-7), 4-6 at No. 1 to Allison Phillips and Passey running out of gas in three sets against Marissa Woodbrey, 7-5, 4-6, 2-6 at No. 2. Cruz lost to Callie Hanson 0-6, 4-6 at No. 3.
In doubles Jamison and Gill lost to Alyssa Dorr and Bryce Combs 1-6, 2-6; West and Dickson lost 1-6, 2-6 to Anna Gorkovchenko and Chelsea Montenguise at No. 2 and Floyd and Melia Winters lost 5-7, 1-6 at No. 3 to Aisha Alnassim and Megan Dusenberry.
“We did not play well against East Valley,” Anderson said. “Partly because EV's players played well and forced us to play poorly, partly because I saw some match fatigue from three matches in a row.”
Cheney will have a more normal schedule this week, entertaining Medical Lake on Tuesday while traveling to West Valley Thursday. Anderson said the team would work on the basic parts of their game, particularly in doubles, in order to keep improving.
“We are going to really need to focus on fundamental doubles play to make sure we are in the right position on the court to win points,” he said. “That is going to be our focus…fundamentals.”
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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