Mckitterick Grateful For Challenge

Ferris senior Megan McKitterick knows she’s playing better tennis now than earlier this season.

That’s how it’s supposed to be.

But she said there’s work to do heading into the District 8 4A Tournament, which begins today.

McKitterick, fourth in singles at last year’s State 4A Tournament, placed third in the Inland Empire Tournament last weekend. She was thankful for the tough competition before the postseason.

There are only a few players in the Greater Spokane League who give her a challenge.

“This tournament was good preparation,” she said after defeating Christine Dickson of Davenport in the third-fourth match. “I need to be consistent with making my volleys and practicing tough.”

G-Prep boys improve

Gonzaga Prep boys tennis coach Carl Bruscoe has a couple theories why the Bullpups have moved up in the Greater Spokane League standings this year.

Attitude and work ethic.

“They have more desire to win,” he said. “We have a lot of seniors, and they want to work as hard as they possibly can.”

Bruscoe was pleased with the Bullpups’ matches against Lewis and Clark and Ferris, the top two teams in the league.

The team’s No. 1 singles player, senior Riggs Kubiak, is playing the best tennis of his career, Bruscoe said.

“He’s working hard and has improved consistency-wise with his ability to keep the ball in play,” Bruscoe said. “Talent-wise, he’s up there with the best of them.

“He’s loose and he’s enjoying himself.”

Kubiak, who lost in the semifinals of the Inland Empire Tournament to eventual champion Stephen Lewis of Kamiakin, said he knows this is his last chance to make it to the state tournament. He has two league losses this season, and both have been close.

“This is my best year,” he said. “I wanted to go undefeated, and that didn’t happen, but I figured this year is my senior year, so I’ll go for it all and see if I can go all the way.”

Kubiak, a 6-foot-1 right-hander, doesn’t play tennis all winter like many of his opponents. He skis in the winter and also plays guitar in a hip-hop band called “Loud and Proud.”

“I just like to have fun (with tennis),” he said. “I like to do so much more stuff.”

He’s headed to Boston College in the fall to study economics or engineering.