Charger duo doubles up on tennis titles again

They’re no longer just two talented tennis-types playing as a doubles team.

Now, Anna McIntosh and Chelsey White truly are a doubles team.

“We kind of share two brains now,” McIntosh said with a smile last Saturday after she and White also shared in their second consecutive North Division and overall South Puget Sound League championships. “Last year, we didn’t move as well together.”

“And we’re a lot closer,” White added quickly.

McIntosh and White, who went all the way to the state tournament last year, won the North Division half of the league tournament bracket Saturday morning, defeating Kentwood’s Kendall Bielisnki and Kelsey Hurter in a well-played match at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway, 6-4, 6-3.

Then, in the afternoon league finals, Kentridge’s senior tandem downed Puyallup’s Becca Robbins and Chelsea Bruno, 6-0, 6-3.

That gave McIntosh and White, who also won boh titles last year, the SPSL’s top seed for the Class 4A West Central District tournament. That action begins today, continues Friday and concludes Saturday at Sprinker.

Kentridge junior Kim Quach advanced to the North Division singles final for the first time, but on the other side of the net was Decatur freshman sensation Meghan Cassens. Regarded as a state title contender, Cassens rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Quach, however, bounced right back to finish third, defeating Angie Alba of Bethel, 6-1, 6-3.

All of that helped Kentridge claim the team title with room to spare. The Chargers finished with 37 points, 10 ahead of runner-up Decatur. Kentwood was third with 23.

Last spring, McIntosh and White teamed up when White, who previously played singles, was coming back from a major knee injury. They enjoyed some considerable success even as they were still getting the hang of playing together.

Doing it again just seemed natural.

“We know how to keep each other cool now,” McIntosh said.