Chiefs fall narrowly to Braves teams

KENNEWICK - It really would have been nice, that sweep thing.

But for the Moses Lake tennis teams had to settle for wins over Pasco and narrow defeats at the hands of Kennewick.

The boys teams lost 4-3 to the host Braves but did cruise to their second Big Nine win, 7-0 over Pasco, with both duals taking place Saturday.

On the girls' side, the Chiefs also dropped a 4-3 decision to Kamiakin but recorded their first dual win of the campaign, beating Pasco 6-1.

Against Kennewick, the difference was in doubles, where the Braves took two of three matches after the teams split in singles play.

Moses Lake winners were Josh Black (No. 1 singles 4-6, 6-1, 6-1), Tyler Knapp (No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-2), and the number one doubles team of Levi Huddleston/Conner Koreis who won 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 6-3.

"I've been told our boys have never defeated Kamiakin and it was the second time we have gone down there and been a match short," Moses Lake head coach Jon Wrigley said. "It was disappointing we let a few opportunities slip in doubles.  Kamiakin had good depth and we just could not close some sets out when we needed.  Our first doubles saved five match points to rally back and take control of the match."

The Chiefs made short order of Pasco as they didn't lose a set in seven matches and lost a total of 14 games.

Black and Knapp were joined by Huddleston and Koreis in sweeping singles play at all flights. 

Nat Mengist/Nathan Sanchez (No. 1), Bryce Perez/Dallas Pryor (No. 2), and Tiernan Hall/Harris Turner (No. 3) were the victorious doubles pairings for the Chiefs.

"The boys came out fired up and no opponent got more then four games," Wrigley said. "Tyler and Conner are both 10-0 to start the season.  Koreis is just becoming such a tough competitor and is the leader of this team."

Girls singles players, Courtney Kunjara (No. 1), Jessica Homesley (No. 2), and Alyssa Tucker (No.3) all finished off two-set wins to help pace the Chiefs' win over Pasco.

The Chiefs lost only three of 15 sets played and got straight set wins at number two doubles from Makena Jansen/Marki Koreis, and number three doubles from Victoria Maeirs/Ece Yilmaz.

At number one doubles, Amanda Hart and Annalise Odegaard rallied to win their match, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

"The girls had a sluggish start and on a few courts were still letting the match against Kamiakin linger," Wrigley said. "It was good to see them wake up and win the match as Pasco has beat us the past two seasons."

Kunjara dropped a tough three-set match against Kamiakin while the host Braves split in singles and won 2-1 in doubles to hold on for the win.

Homesley and Tucker won in two sets each to claim the Moses Lake singles wins while Jansen/Marki Koreis won a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 thriller to account for the team's three victories.

"I was watching our girls close in on a big win when momentum almost switched across first and fourth singles and first doubles at the same time," Wrigley said. "We dropped all three in three sets. If win just one, we come out with the team win. My girls singles really played well in this match, Alyssa had a great day and really took a step forward in her approach to the game."

EPHRATA 4-3

Tonasket 1-2

TONASKET - The Ephrata Tigers tennis teams travelled to Tonasket on Saturday and came away impressive winners, 4-1 on the boys' side and 3-2 in favor of the girls.

In both singles and doubles, the Ephrata boys cruised to a sweep of singles and a won at number one doubles, while dropping their only decision at number three doubles.

Hunter Sears captured a tough, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at number one singles while Thomas Pheasant held on for a 6-3, 6-3 win at number two.

Michael Bosnar dismantled his Tonasket opponent at number three singles, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 win.

In doubles play, the Tigers' number one team of Mauricio Contreras/Micheal McDonnell blew past Tonasket's team in a 6-0, 6-2 rout.

"For the boys, the match of the day was the two-and-one-half-hour marathon at first singles," Ephrata coach Deanna Brown said. "After dropping the first set, Hunter fought back to claim the second set  and the third set went back and forth with Sears leading 3-2 then dropping three straight games to put the score at 3-5. He went on to win the next four straight games to take the match and solidify the team win for the Tiger Boys."

The Lady Tigers had the edge in singles and that was enough to hold on for the win.

Aubrey Denley (number two) won 6-3, 6-1 and Whitney Miller (number three) captured the victory, 6-0, 6-1, to give Ephrata a 2-1 lead heading into doubles play.

There, Tessa Ratigan/Tiana Schmitz pulled out an impressive 6-0, 6-0 triumph at number two doubles.