Tennis Squads Not Intimidated By League Talent
Defending champion East Valley and improving West Valley may not have the Frontier League’s top individual girls tennis players.
They do have enough overall talent and experience to be competitive.
“It’s hard to tell (how we’ll do),” said Knight coach Aaron Alteneder, whose team is 2-0. “Riverside and Cheney will have the first and second individuals.”
West Valley has a new coach, Jason Walker, and a 1-1 record.
“We have a lot of returning players and a good turnout,” said Walker, who found the job in The Spokesman-Review classifieds. “I expect us to do well.”
EV rebuilding after title year
Eight players who figured in East Valley’s championship last season are gone, including the team’s number one and two singles players.
“I have five freshman, the most I’ve ever had on varsity, who will be in the top 10 at times,” said Alteneder.
Top returnees at EV include sophomore Sharon Wentz, the team’s new number one player, and junior Vicki Welter, who moves into number two singles.
Number three singles player is senior Jenny Howald. She was part of an 11-1 doubles team last year. The doubles team of Tanya Phillips and Brandy Rowles, both seniors who went 12-0 last year, also return. Another returning player is junior Jenny Frank.
Freshmen Daphne Willschen, at number four singles, Tara Matsuda and Tiffany Claridge, at number two doubles, are in the starting lineup.
Rounding out the team are freshmen Brooke Ruchert, Tammy Hill, juniors Brooke Demianew, Leigh Halloran, sophomore Sarah Emami and senior Deanna Halmai.
“We’re pretty young and being as good as we’ve been, I thought it would be a down year,” said Alteneder. “But we’re currently 4-2.”
Familiar names in WV lineup
With all but three players back in the Eagle lineup, Walker arrived at the right time.
He played tennis at Washington State University and currently is doing a law enforcement investigator’s internship.
Veteran juniors Rani Johnson and Sara Mork and sophomores Molly Ormsby and Chimene Eisfelder are the singles players.
Doubles teams include junior Michaela Ott and sophomore Tiffany Miner, juniors Lisa Chasse and Ashley Brumback, freshman Tiffany Thompson and sophomore Jennifer Calandro.
“Skillwise they have all the strokes and are working hard,” said Walker. “If they get over the hump closing matches we’ll do just fine. And next year we’ll be even more competitive.”
, DataTimes