By Matt Phelps
Joyce Hedlund, the Mercer Island High School girls tennis team head coach, knew that this year’s 3A KingCo regular season schedule would not be a pushover. The Islanders began playing the in-league schedule last week. Although the games were close, the team came away with two victories.
On Tuesday, April 19, the Islanders were thrown right into the KingCo fire by hosting Sammamish High School right after spring break.
“This is the first league match of the year and we know that it is important to set a good tone for the rest of the season,” said Islander senior Ashley Nield.
Mercer Island found itself at a disadvantage as the team was without two varsity players that did not meet team practice specifications during break.
Liz Oldenburg stepped up to play No. 3 singles and to team with Islander Ellie Chapman at No. 2 doubles. The move resulted in two important victories as Mercer Island beat the Totems, 5-4.
The win comes as the Islanders hosted Sammamish for the first time in three seasons.
“Coming off one practice over spring break and having the shake up in the lineup, it is nice to have this meet at home,” said Hedlund. “We just have to do the best we can with what we have.”
What Mercer Island had was one of its closest in-league meets in a long time. Islander Amelia Carpenter battled Jenni Lui at No. 1 singles and edged her opponent in two tie-breaker sets 7-6(10-8) and 7-6(7-5).
Sheehan Trippel had an up-and-down No. 2 singles match for the Islanders. Trippel lost the first set 6-3 but came back to dominate Van Duong in a 6-1 second set win. But the experience of the Totem’s junior was too much for the Mercer Island sophomore, as she lost 6-3 during the third set.
“I think there is some added pressure,” said Oldenburg. “I prefer to play doubles. But it is important for us to start off right and this is an important match.”
Despite the pressure and hesitance to play singles, Oldenburg took to the court for her No. 3 singles match, pitting a senior against a senior. But Oldenburg’s varsity experience was too much for Rita Fridman, as the Islander put her opponent away quickly 6-1, 7-5.
Islander Karen Zemplenyi found herself in a hole early at No. 4 singles, losing the first set 6-7(4-7). But Zemplenyi rebounded in a hurry to dispose the Totem’s Sarah Foster 6-1, 6-2 during the final two sets.
“I have a lot of confidence in the depth of this team,” said Hedlund. “But anything can happen. As long as they play their hardest I am satisfied with the results.”
Sammamish fell further behind when Chapman ripped through freshman Claire Wolf at No. 5 singles 6-3, 6-2.
But the Totems waged a comeback, starting with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles.
Islander seniors Taylor Gwinn and Nield were upset during the No. 1 doubles match against Lui and Duong 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
With the Islanders still needing one more win to seal the Totem’s fate, No. 2 doubles team Chapman and Oldenburg came through. The tandem dominated play for the 6-1, 6-1 victory.
The win was even more significant as Islanders Christina Carpenter and Jane Lee lost a close match at No. 3 doubles 4-6, 6-3,6-4.
The Islanders played another close match Thursday, this time against Interlake. Mercer Island earned four wins on Thursday but the matches took so long to play that the final three matches had to be played on Friday as Mercer Island improved their in-league record to 2-0 with a 6-3 victory. Both Trippel, Gwinn and Zemplenyi earned singles victories. Mercer Island swept the doubles action as none of the matches got to the third set.
Mercer Island played Issaquah on Tuesday (after Reporter deadline) and will travel to Bellevue on Thursday to face the Wolverines.
