The Kentridge High girls tennis team turned the tables on Kentwood last week during a pivotal match between two of the area’s top teams.
And all it took was a little balance and a lot of determination.
Behind a huge performance by Katelyn Overland and Kyana Esber in No. 1 doubles, the Chargers turned back the Conquerors 3-2 in a match that, if all holds, will mean the two longtime rivals will finish as co-champions of the South Puget Sound League North Division.
Kentwood, which won last year’s SPSL North crown with a perfect 10-0 mark, entered the match against Kentridge with an unblemished 7-0 record.
“I think the biggest difference in getting the win this time was going with a lineup that was more balanced,” said Kentridge coach Jennifer McIntosh. “I was confident early in the match that we had the singles, but knew the doubles were all going to be close.”
Indeed they were.
Kentridge took both singles matches as Katie Ly held off Rachel Venn 6-2, 6-0. That was followed by Aurora Varela’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Megan Araki of Kentwood. Things tightened up in doubles play. Kentwood pulled out a victory at No. 2 doubles, where Eliana Spero and Laura Denich pulled out a narrow 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Kentridge’s Alissa Lee and Tracy Tran. The Conquerors continued the momentum at No. 3 doubles, where Maddie Belmondo and Dalena Nguyen dug deep to grab a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Kentridge’s Karissa Lau and Stephanie Fitzgerald.
The difference of the match — and what could end up being the difference between a co-championship and a second-place finish — came in No. 1 doubles, where Kentridge’s Katelyn Overland and Kyana Esber held off Kentwood’s Tess Manthou and Andrea Hatfield, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. In the previous meeting between the two teams, Overland played in the No. 1 singles match while Manthou and Hatfield secured a victory in No. 1 doubles.
Last week, with Overland playing No. 1 doubles with Esber, the Chargers reversed their luck.
“Kyana got fired up and her and Katelyn just started clicking,” McIntosh said. “You could see the momentum swing our way as Kyana and Katelyn become more confident with each point. Kyana was owning at the net and Katelyn was driving the ball from the back court.
“It was a great come back for them and the team since we had lost in doubles two and three.”
Kentwood upended Kentridge on March 29, 3-2.
Kentwood and Kentridge entered play Wednesday afternoon with identical 8-1 records in league play. If the Conquerors and Chargers finish in a two-way tie for first place, they will share the SPSL North crown. Kentridge’s last league crown came in 2008, when the Chargers posted a perfect 14-0 record.
TOP LOCAL RECORDS IN THE NORTH: Kara Ikeda, Kentlake, 5-0 (singles); Karissa Lau, Kentridge, 5-1 (singles); Megan Araki, Kentwood, 4-4 (singles); Sierra Southworth/Maddie Turek, Tahoma, 8-0; Katie Ly/Tracy Tran, Kentridge, 3-1; Tess Manthou/Andrea Hatfield, Kentwood, 3-1.
SPSL NORTH STANDINGS
- Kentwood 7-1
- Kentridge 7-1
- Mount Rainier 5-3
- Tahoma 4-4
- Kentlake 0-7
- Kent-Meridian 0-7
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