The Lady T-Birds tennis team stumbled against the big kids before beating up on someone their own size in last weekend’s competition.
Highline fell 6-1 to a very respectable NAIA team, Lewis & Clark State College, last Friday.
The Pioneers picked up two doubles wins and four out of five singles victories over the Thunderbirds. Celeste Parker tallied the sole win for Highline in singles competition, 6-4, 6-4.
Despite the team loss, Highline continues to level up in play every time they face four-year schools.
“Athletically, it was our best match of the season and we competed well on every court. Celeste Parker was even able to pull off a win at No. 2 singles against a very tough opponent who also happens to be an alum of our program, Lexi Maison,” said Highline Head Coach Laura Rosa.
Four-year programs tend to have players with more power and experience, said Coach Rosa.
“Our freshmen are often matched up against seniors who have multiple years of college experience under their belts and consequently, are usually better at constructing points. The power level forces our players to focus on better footwork and quicker shot selection,” said Rosa.
The non-conference matchup doesn’t count toward each team’s overall record, but contributes to individual scoring totals.
On Saturday, Highline topped Spokane 7-2 in their second meeting this season. The Thunderbirds were forced to give the Sasquatch two default wins in the sixth singles and third doubles positions. Despite Highline having six players, only five were eligible to compete this past weekend.
The No. 1 duo of Mia Rosa and Celeste Parker triumphed 8-1 over opponents. In singles action, Parker never dropped a game and Rosa only dropped two.
The No. 2 duo of Andrea Guiton and Selah Carlisle beat their opponents 8-1 as well. In singles, they only dropped four games combined. Princess Ventura battled it out in the fifth singles position for a 6-3, 2-6, and 11-9 win over her opponent.
The team’s success this season is leading to recognition from the league, with Andrea Guiton being named NWAC player of the week.
Guiton is currently 8-1 in the No. 4 singles spot with five of those wins against NAIA and NCAA schools. She is also undefeated in conference play according to the NWAC Website.
“Andrea is so athletic. She not only plays tennis, but also soccer. This helps her be a great player because she is tough and has a very competitive attitude which I believe helps her win so often. Andrea is a great teammate and I know I can always count on her,” said Highline player Selah Carlisle.
This is the second week in a row that a Thunderbird has been recognized for their outstanding performance. In fact, all Highline players have all been steadily improving, said Coach Rosa.
“I feel like we have really locked in some solid doubles combinations. In singles, it’s great because every position from one to six has been steadily improving to the point where they are continually pushing each other to get better,” said Rosa.
Highline continues to lead the conference with a perfect 5-0 record. This small but mighty squad aims to close out the regular season undefeated.
“The team goal for our final match is to go in strong and confident,” said Selah Carlisle.
Next Saturday, May 7, Highline will host their scheduled match against Treasure Valley at the Boeing Employee Tennis Club in Kent.