Two Shorecrest tennis teams play each other to take first and second in the WesCo District Tournament

Shorecrest Wins 3A Tennis District Title two years in a row

All four player qualify for State tournament

Photo courtesy WesCo

Text and photos by Coach Rob Mann

The 3A WesCo Tennis Tournament took place at Arlington High School on May 15 and May 16, 2019. The tournament was comprised of the top four teams from WesCo North and the top four teams from WesCo South. The top four finishers of the eight teams earned a spot in the State Tennis tournament at Kamiakin High School in Kennewick on May 24th and May 25th.

Kate Ivens serving

This year was a banner year for Shorecrest, who won the regular season by defeating all the schools in the south, winning the WesCo South Tournament and WesCo District Tournament.

The quartet of Sophie Ivens, Bella Saunders, Anna Burke, and Kate Ivens have really stepped up their games this year. Their focus and determination has helped them all to get to the finals in both tournaments.

Bella Saunders serving and Sophie Ivens at the net

In the district tournament all four of them made quick work of their opponents in the first round.

Anna and Kate took down a team from Everett and Bella and Sophie beat Stanwood. Each of them carried that momentum into the first set of second round just dominating their opponents. 

Kate was flying around at the net looking for balls to put away and Anna kept hitting passing shots down the line against Edmonds-Woodway. 

Sophie was bringing monster serves to a team from Snohomish, which set up Bella at the net frequently for the put away volley. One of parents, Chris Ivens, stated “Rinse, Wash, and Repeat”. And they repeated that blueprint many times during the first set. The Snohomish girls didn’t know what hit them.

Sophie Ivens returning and Bella Saunders at the net

The second set for both Shorecrest teams was a completely different story. Their opponents made some adjustments, the wind picked up, and the Shorecrest players let up a little.

Anna and Kate couldn’t shake their opponents in the second set. The score stayed close the entire set, so close that the set ended in a tiebreaker. This was when Kate and Anna decided enough was enough and took charge and played at another level. Their opponents were shell-shocked and couldn’t keep up with all the tennis weapons that Kate and Anna possess. 

Anna and Kate dominated the tiebreaker 7-2 and won the match to get to the finals. 

Bella and Sophie went down quickly 1-5 in the second set, but remembered the old adage that it isn’t how you start, but how you finish. They decided that they were going to fight their way back, overcoming one set point and stringing along wins in the next six games to bring the set score to 6-5. 

Their opponents held their serve to make the set score 6-6. Hence, Shorecrest had another tiebreaker. This tiebreaker was close the entire way. Snohomish went up 5-4 in the tiebreaker, then Bella and Sophie won the next three points in a row to win the set and match. The match ended with the most amazing approach shot by Bella.

Anna Burke slicing the ball and Kate Ivens at the net

The Shorecrest teams had a rematch in the finals Thursday after just playing each other in the finals last week in the WesCo South tournament. 

Anna and Kate won the first set 6-3 and were up 2-1 in the second set when the rain hit. Luckily, they were able to finish the match indoors. Sophie and Bella came out strong and won the next two games to put them up 3-2, but Anna and Kate caught fire in the end to win the finals 6-3, 6-4.

Lastly, these girls won the District Team Title for the second year in a row. Go Scots!

Match Scores

Sophie Ivens/Bella Saunders (SC)

def. Shawna Lingrey/Lily Cunningham (Stanwood) 6-1, 6-1
def. Grace Flitsch/Celia Forster (Snohomish) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)

Anna Burke/Kate Ivens (SC)

def. Quiqun Johnston/Oliva Zwar (Everett) 6-0, 6-1
def. Alexi Huffman/Christabel Jamison (Edmonds-Woodway) 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)

Finals

Anna Burke/Kate Ivens (SC) def. Sophie Ivens/Bella Saunders (SC) 6-3, 6-4