Girls tennis preview: Lewis and Clark looks to take over Greater Spokane League’s top spot

Lewis and Clark girls tennis lost only twice in league play last season and that was without arguably its top player – Brooke Fager, who was nursing an injury.

Fager hopes to play this season, but her status is a big question mark.

Fager was the league Most Valuable Player and won State 4A doubles her sophomore season before bowing out last season.

She’s signed to play tennis at Biola University next year, so her return to the Tiger squad could provide a spark to a team looking to make noise at the top of the Greater Spokane League.

The Tigers lost four starters, including Abby Ward, but return their No. 1 doubles team in senior Carolyn Johnson and junior Madelyn Dibble. Dibble moved from Virginia a season ago to solidify the top-line doubles team.

Head coach Eric Woodard is in his fourth season at LC and this team could be another strong performer. It will be important for the Tigers to build depth as the season progresses.

Lewis and Clark has finished in second place the last two seasons as Mead and University have fought for the title for three years in a row.

The Tigers are already 4-0 early in the season, the best record in the GSL, and defeated Ferris on Tuesday 7-0. The meat of their schedule happens in an 11-day span – first, an away match at University on April 16, followed by a four-day stretch against Mead, then the Inland Empire Classic.

The GSL should be decided after the Tigers host Mead late in the season.