Coupeville gets in the swing of things

In a rebuilding year there’s guaranteed to be a few bumps along the road.

The Coupeville tennis team is no exception to this rule, as the inexperienced squad lost its first three matches this season.

Things of late, however, are on the upswing for the Wolves (1-1, 2-3).

“We’re showing some signs of improvement,” head coach Cliff Horr said. “We’ve got some of our girls that are really coming along.”

CHS won its first league match and second consecutive contest Tuesday, with a 4-1 victory over Darrington.

Number one singles player Mindy Horr led the way, improving her individual record to 4-1, winning easily in two sets, 6-1, 6-1 over Tessa Harris.

“Mindy’s looking really, really well,” coach Horr said.

Her only loss of the season came at the hands of last year’s number two finisher in the state from Overlake High School.

Coupeville’s number two singles player, Taniel Lamb, has also done extremely well in what is only her second year of competitive tennis. Lamb won 6-1, 6-2 over Shauna Kuper on Tuesday, moving her season record to 2-1.

“She’s a tremendous athlete,” Horr said of Lamb. “There’s such an upside there with her potential.”

Prior to Tuesday, the Wolves had not received a single win at their number one doubles spot.

“I’ve kind of been switching around players,” Horr said. “We’ve tried a couple of different combinations.”

Horr hopes he found that perfect combination in senior Meghan Tucker and junior Kathryn Meyer. The duo defeated the Loggers’ Reily Wicker and Taylor Nations, 6-4, 6-0 for the first doubles victory of the season.

The number two doubles team of senior Tiffany Folkstad and junior Heather Fakkema gathered the fourth and final victory for Coupeville at number two doubles, winning 6-0, 6-2 over their opponents.

“I was just really pleased with all the doubles players,” Horr said.

Coupeville traveled to league foe Friday Harbor yesterday for the Wolves’ third league contest of the year. The first time Friday Harbor and Coupeville met, CHS was edged out 3-2 in a close battle.

“They’re not real strong, but they’ve got some experience,” Horr said of Friday Harbor.

Coupeville has come out on top of its only two league opponents, Darrington and Friday Harbor, winning the Northwest A/B crown the past six years.

The Wolves next home match is at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 27 against non-league Cascade Christian.

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