Mount Rainier drops season finale to Highlanders

By Gerardo Bolong

Seamount League tennis champion Hazen handed homestanding Mount Rainier an 8-1 setback in regular season-ending matches on Thursday.

Basking in the true warmth of spring, the Highlanders (13-1) began the high road to victory against the Rams in doubles action.

For the boys, Hazen's Mark Ishimitsu and Trevor Takami outlasted Trevor Thompson and Trevor Larson, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, in No. 1 action while Alex Nevins and Tommy Truong took the measure of Nipun Sharma and Tim Lau, 6-1, 6-3, for the No. 2 doubles.

Another doubles victory went the way of Hazen in girls competition. Kelly Lank and Angie Wnek battled Lorrin Rondeau and Kelly Kivlahan in the No. 1 spot before emerging with a 6-4, 6-1, win.

Mount Rainier climbed to its one shining moment in the No. 2 doubles match up. Junior Carly Bowden teamed with senior Luu Phan to outstroke Laure Thompson and Jillian Felt, 6-3, 7-5. The victory hinged on strategy and purpose.

"We were calmer and more composed in the first set," admitted Phan. "I tried to hit the alleys more, and we tried to hit lobs to steer them clear of the net. In the second set our physical game was just as strong as in the first set, but our mental game wore down and we stressed more. As a first year varsity player who has also played volleyball, I enjoy the stronger self-reliance that I have in tennis."

Following the boys and girls doubles matches, the Highlander victories came quickly in singles matches. Melissa Nguyen faced a stiff first set before gaining a 6-3, 6-0, win against Sam Brown in No. 1 girls. Haley Zeylmaker annexed the No. 2 girls spot, 6-2, 6-0, over Sara Kochel.

No. 2 boys play featured a Colin Crozier 6-1, 6-0, defeat of Casy Loftus ahead of Ryan Nagamatsu's 6-0, 6-0, domination of Jim Leeds at No.1. In the final match, Karianne Kajita and Brian Slack struggled by the twosome of Chanel Fuchigami and Chris Kubek, 6-3, 6-2, for the mixed doubles win.

Mount Rainier closed out its regular season at 10-4, losing only to Hazen and league runner up Kennedy.

"This team gets along with each other as well as any team I've had," said Rams coach Tim Lee. "They rib each other and keep loose. The talking and chattering during warm up keeps them calm. For the league tournament, we'll send some doubles teams and go as far as we can. Trevor Thompson and Trevor Larson will be the boys team. We'll decide tomorrow what the girls team will be."

Tyee High school hosts the league tournament this Friday and Saturday.