RICHLAND - It was a tough stand to take for Alexis Gregerson of Mount Rainier to endure at the Class 4A state tennis tournament beginning on Friday, May 25 at Richland High School and the Columbia Basin Racquet Club.

Gregerson rallied strongly and tenaciously from baseline to baseline before dropping a closely contested girls state tennis singles opener to Leslie Ho of Central Valley. Ho posted a 6-3 first set win before Gregerson turned more tenacious to have her opponent on the verge of a second set defeat, but Ho pounded home key points to escape with a 7-5 triumph in the second set.

Theresa Huang of Skyline then fought off the Ram player 6-2, 6-3, to give the Mount Rainier senior a season-ending defeat. The energy expended in the rough first match came back to hit Gregerson.

Ram player Gregerson ended her tennis career under Mount Rainier coach Tim Lee with this appearance at state after teaming with Shannon Wong in state doubles action last season.

Sammi Hampton of Skyview fought Megan LaLone of Skyview through three torrid sets before emerging with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 championship win.

Hampton's Greater St. Helens League rival Union's Jelena Vidovic factored into the success of Hampton, extending Lalone to three grueling sets before losing 5-7, 6-1, 7-6, in a semifinal that lasted more than three hours.

Angela Chen and Amie Gilbert of Newport annexed the girls doubles championship with a 6-1, 6-0, finals defeat of Alyssa Gilbert and Jenna Gilbert of Kamiak.