MLHS Tennis bests Davis in first meet of league play

MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks boys and girls tennis teams were both able to defeat Davis on Thursday afternoon in their first match-up of league play. 

It was close for the boys who ended up beating Davis 4-3, winning all of their doubles matches and one singles. The girls won all of their games in singles and doubles, going 7-0 for the evening. 

The number one girls double team of Kalei Bruce and Kiley Thomas had a tough pair of matches against Davis's Joselynn Standley and Grace Wyckoff. The Mavs won those games 6-4 and 6-3. 

“(Bruce and Thomas) are very solid, and they are 3-0 on the year,” said coach Jay Dickinson. “That was their biggest challenge so far, but it was nice to get a 7-0 team win against Davis to start out league play.” 

The girls team this season consists of nine seniors with plenty of experience, so they are expecting a successful season, said coach Mark Thompson. The girl's league is typically tough in the Big Nine. 

The boys’ matches were closer and after losing their first two singles it came down to the last two matches on whether they would be able to claim a meet win over Davis. 

“Davis is one of the really close opponents to us,” said Dickinson. “They’re a team we need to beat to be in that top one or two places in our lane.” 

Senior Emitt Madsen was able to secure victory for the Mavs in his singles match against Brigdon Feen getting the boys the four wins needed to overcome Davis.  

“I was really nervous because I don’t really play singles. Pretty much, I only play doubles, and I knew it was all riding on me because we were going to lose three and we already won three,” said Madsen. “I played well, and it made me happy.” 

Madsen’s placement into singles was a last-minute decision made as the Mavs were heading into Thursday’s play, said Dickinson. 

“Emitt basically talked me into letting him play singles and it made the difference,” said Dickinson. “Sometimes, you’ve got to trust the players a little bit.” 

There was also another close match between Mav’s Sammy Molitor and Angel Sanchez of Davis. Despite Molitor’s eventual loss, it was still an entertaining match, said the coach. 

“I felt good, but he just got all my balls back and just lobbed and he just had fun and hit a lot of really cool serves that I was not expecting,” said Molitor. “It was a really fun match, it was great.” 

The boys also went into this competition with a few injured players and others who were unable to make it. As the team looks towards their next game they will focus on getting those players healthy and back out onto the courts, said Dickinson. 

“I think we’ve got a couple really good teams here with both the boys and the girls,” said Dickinson. “We’re pretty excited about what’s going to happen this year.” 

Moses Lake Maverick’s Boys Varsity Tennis  Roster 

Cesar Deleon, junior
Caleb Dickinson, senior
Evan Duong, senior
Jacob Duvall, junior

Emitt Madsen, senior
Ollie Madsen, junior
Samuel Molitor, junior
Carsen Owens, senior
Colin Stanberry, senior

Moses Lake Maverick’s Girls Varsity Tennis Roster 

Baylee Bates, junior
Kalei Bruce, senior
Kamaile Bruce, sophomore
Hillary Dogbe, senior
Ariah Loiseau, sophomore
Selah Loomis, senior
Madison McDonald, senior
Elise Miles, senior
Abigail O'Neil, senior
Belize Orton, senior
Kiley Thomas, senior

Claire Thompson, senior

    Kalei Bruce and Kiley Thomas played a strong doubles match against Davis in one of their toughest games so far.
  

    Samuel Molitor played an intense match against Davis’s Angel Sanchez.