Highline High School continued its steadiness in a 6-3 Seamount League team tennis victory against visiting Renton at the Pirate courts on Thursday, April 6.
With the win Highline improved its record to 5-3 going into the school district Spring Break.
Senior Jennalee Gould started Highline in the right direction with a controlling 6-1, 6-0, No. 2 girls singles defeat of Thomarie Sadang.
"We just had a tough match against Evergreen and I just really had to keep my mind on the game," said Gould. "There have been a lot of matches in a short time because of makeups so I had to buckle down and just play tennis. Hopefully, I'll go to state this season."
In No. 1 boys doubles, Justin Vu and Bao Vu kept the Pirate momentum going in a 6-1, 6-3, win against Bobby Tat and Ak Sterling.
"I play mostly singles and the second set was tougher because our communication got harder," said Justin Vu.
Renton rallied back beginning with Theresa Vo's 6-2, 1-6, 10-6 (super tie-breaker) No. 1 girls singles victory over Blake Henley.
Henley had not played for a week, so it showed, particularly in the first set.
"I had to rely more on instinct and reflexes so that I wouldn't over think," Henley said.
Chrissa Santos and Reezaly Sta. Marian squared the match results in a 6-2, 6-0, triumph over the Highline pair of Stephanie Anderson and Andrea Mandt at No. 1 girls doubles.
Back came the Pirates with the boys No. 2 doubles tandem of Kily Nhan and Ky Nhan quickly stroking past the Indian pair of Anthony Tron and Kanish Shukla, 6-0, 6-0.
Highline drew closer to the team victory with Kyle Swain's No. 1 boys singles 6-0, 6-0, domination of Benny Souriyadeth.
Aaron Lyons delivered the clinching victory for the Pirates in a 6-0, 6-1, defeat of Cedric Aquino at the boys No. 2 singles match up.
In mixed doubles, Highline's Anthony Vuong and Nihi Lan outlasted Nianca Lazaro and Edward Rho 6-4, 6-4.
Closing out the day's activities, Renton's Jessica Lynch and Kimy Hoang battled back and forth with the Pirates' Trinh Tran and Angelica Yu before emerging with a hard fought 5-7, 7-5, 13-11 (super tie-breaker) victory in No. 2 girls doubles.
For this season, the Seamount League returned to playing nine matches which brought mixed doubles back while employing super tie-breaker rules at any three-set matches.
"Although we have no super stand out players, our boys have good balance from top to bottom," Highline head coach Scott Babcock said. "Seniors Blake Henley and Jennalee Gould are top girls players and will probably play doubles in the post season. The other girls are young."
Henley and Gould are experienced players, having reached state in 2010 as a doubles tandem.
