SPECIAL TO THE TIMES-NEWS

Mount Rainier forged a three-way tie for first place in the SPSL 4A North Division with a tense 3-2 team tennis home victory against the previously undefeated Kentridge Chargers on Thursday, March 28, to put the Rams into a 4-1 record first place deadlock with Kentwood and the Chargers as the second half of the spring season approached.

"We've played Kentwood and Kentridge close, but this win got us over the hump," said Ram coach Tim Lee. "It was pretty exciting to beat Kentridge. The team is in a good spot and at least we're in the conversation, again."

With the schools deadlocked at two victories apiece and the sun slowing dissipating, the Ram doubles team of Anya Bonner and Karissa Pallagi drew attention on the end court. Bonner and Pallagi kept their composure in a 6-4 No. 3 doubles win against the Charger squad of Christine Huynh and Lin Nguyen. Mount Rainier had taken a 5-2 first set lead, but Kentridge fired back to trail only 5-4 before the Rams prevailed.

Despite a slightly adjusted line up due to player unable to perform, Kentridge had forced the result to be determined at the very end of the pairings for the day. Now, the Chargers dug in their heels and were deadlocked at 3-3 in the second set. The Ram pair came back from 15-30 to hold serve with three consecutive points. A missed overhead, a return into the net, and a double fault left Kentridge in a precarious position. After a KR return sailed over the baseline, MR broke serve and the Rams served for the game, set, match and team victory. Bonner then served out the set in five points as Mount rainier burst into jubilation.

After Pallagi reached for a Fiber One bar, the victorious doubles duo spoke about the gutsy win.

"I'm so glad," said Bonner. "It was a tight match and I was really scared. We just worked well together.

In relation to the first set, the titanic twosome worked itself into a state of comfort.

"We were trying to take it easy and place shots one by one," said Pallagi. "We were more warmed up and used to each other. It was tough because each team knew what to expect from the other."

After the Kentridge pairing of Kyana Esber and Heidi Antrim defeated the Ram duo of Madie Wright and Alex Bayle, 6-1, 6-0, in No. 1 doubles, the singles play set the cornerstones for the Mount Rainier win.

Tajana Vujic struggled to a 6-3 first set win against Mithula Ramar in No. 2 singles before expanding her horizon with a 6-0 second set control.
"As I understood the other player more, I concentrated on shots to the backhand corner," she explained.

No.1 singles went to the Rams' Kristana Stevanovic in a baseline battle against Katie Ly. Stevanovic led 3-0 in the first set before Kentridge called time out. After the break in the action, Ly closed within 3-2 before the Ram top gun repulsed the threat and led 5-2 en route to annexing the first set at 6-3. In the second set, the Mount Rainier singles star once again broke to a 3-0 lead before the Chargers called time out. Following this break, Stevanovic was able stroke to a 4-1 margin ahead of a service break and hold of serve to close out the match at 6-1 on a forehand slice to the corner..

During such a close match up, the one time out allowed per player or team would be called into play often.

"I felt I was looking and concentrating on the ball well," she said. "My focus was on the ball. I had to stay concentrated a lot and run for every ball. I just thought to never give up."

With the cornerstones for winning solidly in place, the Rams had two opportunities to finish building the cherished team triumph.

No. 2 doubles featured a three-set fight to the finish.

Svetlana Avanesyan and Beverly Crock powered their way to a 6-3 first set win but Tracey Tran and Amy Yang took away the momentum in a 6-3 Charger second set verdict. The Ram tandem appeared to have the third set well in hand as they moved to a 3-0 lead. Kentridge rebounded strongly with breaks of serve along with holding its own service to charge forward and grab the third set, leaving the decision to the final match.

"We've blended really well," added Lee. "Good captains (Madie Wright and Beverly Crock) and senior leadership allows the the girls to work together. great dedication in practice is paying off. The early communications by the captains with the rest of the team and their full support helps. Madie and Beverly are doing everything they need to do as captains."

Coach Lee lost state singles qualifier Alexis Gregerson, district participant Jelena Stevanovic and Eden Ghimai to graduation from last season's 5-5 fourth place SPSL North squad but has strong numbers of returnees in his 27th year at the helm.

Seniors include Madie Wright and Tajana Vujic and Beverly Crock while Kristana Stevanovic, Alex Bayle and Karissa Pallagi are back as juniors. This returning nucleus is bolstered by key newcomers senior Grace Hilton, sophomores Svetlana Avanesyan and Anya Bonner plus freshman Mariya Manuel.

The Rams got off to a quick and strong start with victories against Kent Meridian, Tahoma and Kentlake before dropping a 3-2 decision to Kentwood leading into the Charger encounter.