Stime sisters get rematch
Mead’s Stime sisters get the rematch they wanted in today’s semifinals of the WIAA 4A State Tennis Championships at Kamiakin High School in Kennewick.
They meet defending doubles champs Julia Galbraith and Nell Shonnard of Bellarmine Prep.
Senior Britta and sophomore Katijene placed fourth together last year, and have not lost a high school doubles match since falling to Galbraith and Shonnard in last year’s state tournament quarterfinal.
“It’s cool,” Katijene said of the rematch. “We really want it.”
The Mead girls are the only Spokane-area entries still in the championship hunt at the 4A.
They took three sets to win an opening-round match against Shorewood’s Anna Chatilo and Mackenzie Bang, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1.
The Stimes had an easier time against South Kitsap’s Chloe Helms and Emily Hulscher in their quarterfinal, winning 6-1, 6-1.
“Less unforced errors. We played better,” Katijene said of their afternoon win.
They played outdoors, through 90-plus degree heat, but it didn’t seem to bother the pair.
“In singles I’d probably be dying,” Katijene said of the heat. “It’s just doubles.”
“Not so much running,” her older sister added.
Britta won a doubles state title as a sophomore, and is two matches away from winning a second with her younger sister.
“It would be amazing,” Britta said of the possibility. “I love playing with Katijene. It’s so much fun.”
On the boys side, Mead junior Ethan Vaughn is alive in singles consolation play.
After an opening round, three-set loss to Stanwood’s Kyle Koetje, Vaughn battled for two consolation wins – 6-1, 6-0 over Garfield’s Ryan Killory, and 7-6, 6-1 over Gig Harbor’s Andrew Anderson.
Singles matches are indoors at the Tri-City Court Club, but the warm day still took its toll.
“It’s tough,” Vaughn said after his third match. “You need a lot of stamina. I’m drained.”
Lewis and Clark’s Zach Williams was eliminated, losing an opening-round match to Kentridge’s Matt Overland, and a consolation match to Roosevelt’s Stephan Perkins.
In girls singles, Gonzaga Prep’s Anna Lambert and Central Valley’s Leslie Ho suffered similar fates.
Each lost in the opening round, won a consolation match, but was eliminated in three sets in the consolation quarterfinals.
In boys doubles, Mead’s Ryan Gerbing and Bryan Lee were also eliminated in their third match of the day, losing an opening-round match, edging Olympia’s Cameron Williams and Ian Lindgren, 7-5, 7-6, but falling to Auburn’s Josh Jeter and Travis Hanley, 6-2, 6-4.
•3A: Mt. Spokane’s Katie and Kellee Bates won their first-round doubles match 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 over an Auburn Mt. View duo at the Vancouver Tennis Complex. The team was then sent to the consolation bracket with a 6-3, 6-0 loss to a Mercer Island twosome and draws a pair from Meadowdale today for a spot in the fourth-place match.
•2A: Clarkston’s Dustin McConnell won both of his singles matchups to advance to the semifinal round at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.
Elise Rooney of Clarkston advanced to the girls semifinals.
Clarkston’s boys doubles team of Drew Adams and Derek Young won its first match and lost its second.
The Bantams boys are tied for third in the team race, while the girls are tied for fourth.
West Valley’s doubles team of Garret Mullen and Chris Chappell look to join the Clarkston pair after winning their consolation matches. They play an Ellensburg doubles team for the other slot in today’s fourth-place match.
•1A/2B/1B: Freeman’s girls made a strong showing on the first day at the Yakima Tennis Club, advancing two players to each singles semifinal.
Freshman Maya Jansen defeated Mariah Elsner of Naches 6-0, 6-0 and then dispatched Annie Wright’s Gabrielle Bates 6-0, 6-0 to earn a berth in today’s semifinals.
She will be joined in the semifinals by her sister, junior Lea Jansen, after the latter’s 6-0, 6-0 victories over Italia Mengarelli of Granger and Christine Leilabadi of Forest Ridge.
Freeman’s girls lead team scoring with 14 points.
Lakeside’s girls doubles team of Gina Spring and Rachel Sugden breezed into the semifinals after a 6-2, 6-2 win over a Granger pair and a 6-1, 6-3 win over a duo from Cascade. They play a Cashmere team today for a berth in the title match.
Stephen Eastburn and Reid Wells of Valley Christian stayed alive in the consolation bracket after a 7-6, 6-3 first-round doubles loss to a pair from Bush. They play a doubles squad from Cascade (Leavenworth) today for a spot in the fourth-place match.