Varsity experience is limited for the Coupeville tennis team and it showed Friday.

The Wolves lost their first match of the season, 7-0, to 2A Lakewood.

“We’re inexperienced, but developing,” CHS coach Ken Stange said.

Number one singles player, Sharlie Blouin, appeared she might get a win in her first match as a number one singles player. The senior led 5-4 during the first set, before dropping three straight games and the first set to Lakewood’s Jessica Boe. Blouin then fell 6-1 in the second set to lose the match.

“She was quite dominant to start the match, but suffered a letdown after losing the first set,” Stange said.

The Wolves’ number two through four singles players, sophomore BriAnna Stevenson, sophomore Hannah Merrell and freshman Stevie Glover also lost their respective matches in two sets.

“Many matches were closer than the scores would suggest,” Stange said. “I think that a bit more mental toughness is needed to achieve match wins.”

Coupeville’s three doubles teams also struggled. The Wolves’ number one team of sophomore Laura Millhouse and sophomore Nicole Smith dropped their match 6-0, 6-2 and the number two team of sophomore Kaitlyn Torres and senior Cassie Williams fell 6-3, 6-3.

Though they lost in two sets, Stange was impressed with what he saw from his number three team of freshman Ashley Sanders and senior Allison Ceci. The duo not only played their first match of the season, but their first-ever competitive tennis match.

“Despite the loss, the team showed character by fighting from start to finish, never giving up at any point in the match,” he said.

Coupeville played at 3A South Whidbey yesterday and travels to Lakewood at 3:30 p.m., today, March 22 to play the Cougars again. The league season begins April 6 at Friday Harbor.

Singles-J. Boe (LW) def. Blouin 7-5, 6-1. Hesselman (LW) def. Stevenson 6-1, 6-1. Desmond (LW) def. Merrell 6-0, 6-0. Neilson (LW) def. Glover 6-2, 6-2. Doubles-Spah/Wentz (LW) def. Millhouse/Smith 6-0, 6-2. Gammon/Tobin (LW) def. Torres/Williams 6-3, 6-3. S. Boe/Renouard (LW) def. Sanders/Ceci 6-4, 6-2.