The Hockinson Hawks girls tennis team narrowly defeated the Ridgefield Spudders, 4-3, with the victory coming down to one set, in their 2A Greater St. Helens League match on Wednesday, April 24.
Ridgefield’s top two doubles teams picked up huge wins, but the Spudders could not seal the win. The No. 1 duo of Abby Vance and Ella Norman won in the third set against Hockinson’s Sarah Deroos and Sophia Broten, while the Spudders’ Layla Melville and Callie Curran won in two sets over the Hawks’ Elsa Gunderson and Lauren Teckenberg.
Hockinson’s top two singles players, however, picked up wins in two sets. Ashley Suva defeated Ridgefield’s Sienna Fulton, while Hockinson’s Olivia Muller took down Ridgefield’s Faith Hale.
“Ashley Suva, our No. 1 singles person, is just really dependable and just plays a really solid, clean game,” Hockinson head coach Krista Mikalatos said. “I hope that we can have at least a few girls move on to the postseason and possibly state.”
Mikalatos added she believes the league is strong with the likes of Columbia River High School consistently sending players to the state championships, including a state title just two years ago.
“We have a group of juniors and seniors that have set a goal of going to state and have worked really hard,” Mikalatos said. “I’m hoping that our No.1 singles player, Ashley, and our No. 1 doubles team of Sarah Deroos and Sophia Broten will go on to state.”
Ridgefield’s first year head coach and Spudder graduate Emily Persons, the success of landing in the middle of the pack in the league standings after being in the bottom just a season ago has inspired confidence in the players to continue to work hard.
“I was just looking to at least get us in the middle of that pack this year. I obviously don’t expect to go from the bottom to the top just instantly, but the girls have been working really hard, and now we are right in the middle,” Persons said. “We’re going to be able to compete for some district sports, so I’m really excited about that.”
A record 46 girls turned out for the Spudder tennis program this season as Persons recruited 15 volleyball players to participate in tennis this year. Persons is the JV volleyball coach for the Spudders, and another volleyball coach is assisting with the tennis program as well, she said.
Persons said watching the athletes grow and push themselves to learn a new sport has been fun.
The Spudders played against the Mark Morris Monarchs on Monday, April 29, but results were unavailable at press time. They travel to Hudson’s Bay High School at 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 1.
The Hockinson Hawks were slated to host the Washougal Panthers on Friday, April 26, but the game will be rescheduled due to weather. They were also slated to take on Hudson’s Bay High School on Monday, April 29, but results were unavailable at press time. They next play the Columbia River Rapids at 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, on the road.
