The biggest surprise on Thursday during the boys tennis match at Juanita High School was not Mercer Island’s 9-0 victory. It was not the sunny skies that sometimes play hide-and-go-seek in September. The biggest surprise was that the match was the first in-league victory of the season.

“I didn’t know this was the first,” said Islander No. 1 singles player Matt Ellis. “It doesn’t matter. We are ready no matter who it is. We are at full throttle.”

With the realignment of the league, many people were confused. But the confusion didn’t impact the play on the court as the Islanders didn’t drop a single set.

Ellis was in fifth gear at the top of the singles lineup, earning a 6-1, 6-2 win.

“I am never rusty with how much I play,” said Ellis. “I played tournaments during the summer.”

Ellis’ victory set an important tone for the team with Max Franklin out of the lineup. Mercer Island freshman Jordan Smith played No. 2 singles in Franklin’s place, winning 6-1, 6-0.

“This was pretty exciting,” said Smith. “I want to become more consistent and solid in all my matches.”

Franklin is expected back for the team’s next match.

“It bothers me that he isn’t getting practice,” said Islander Coach Joyce Hedlund. “Their toughest matches were their challenge matches during the preseason. But it is good to get to play someone different.”

Islander Eddie Jiranek earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory on Thursday and remarked to his coach, “It’s nice to get a win,” referring to a tough preseason of challenge matches.

Glen Kelton won at No. 3 singles (6-0, 6-1) and Matt Sedlacek won the No. 5 match (6-3, 6-2), both for the Islanders. Colin Ramsey posted the sixth singles win for Mercer Island with a 6-2, 6-0 win.

The Islanders swept the doubles action with wins by Matt Stofsky and Andrew Smith (7-5, 6-3), Jered Thomas and Erik Snyder (6-0, 6-3), and Jon Lai and David Peck (6-1, 6-1).

The match was the first time since 1997 that the Islanders and Rebels have met.

Win over Woodinville

The Islanders began the season with a convincing 6-3 victory against Woodinville. Franklin earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles. All three top singles players earned a victory with Ellis’ 6-1, 6-0 and Smith’s 6-1, 6-1 straight sets wins. Sedlacek came away with the only other singles victory, 6-4, 6-3.

Ellis and Franklin brought back the chemistry that took them to the state tournament last season as they won the No. 1 doubles match 6-1, 6-0. Snyder teamed with Craig Deininger for a hard fought 6-3, 6-7(5-7), 13-11 victory to round out the meet.

The Islanders hosted Lake Washington on Tuesday (after Reporter deadline) and will play Roosevelt tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. on the MIHS courts.