“This year, it’s personal,” is the theme of the 29-member Coupeville High School tennis team.

In his third year of coaching, Ken Stange said the team took its lumps the first year but fewer lumps the second year.

“This year it’s our turn,” he said. “Other teams graduated a lot of their players, but I have six full-time varsity players returning.”

Stange said because the Cascade League doesn’t have tennis, the Wolves’ only league opponents are Friday Harbor and Darrington.

“Friday Harbor always has a tough team, but they graduated a number of their top players,” the coach said. “Last season we dominated Darrington, so we think this may be our year to go a long way.”

The Wolves are led by seniors captains Kaitlyn Torres and Laura Millhouse, and junior captains Hannah Merrell and Megan Monroe.

Torres is one two of the top singles players, while Millhouse partners with sophomore Jessica Blanchette on one of the doubles teams.

Merrell and Monroe pair up as the No. 1 doubles team. The other doubles team is composed of Megan Metyer and Lexi Hemphill.

“Hemphill didn’t play for us last year, but she is back,” Stange said. “Other letter winners on the team are Kelly Snowden, Marie Hesselgrave and Jordan Akins.”

Stange said the team is pretty excited about this year.

“Let me rephrase that, they are very, very excited,” he said. “We think we have a chance to win every time we go on the court. I’m looking for big things from our varsity players.”

Coupeville will get a test in its first match, hosting Friday Harbor at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 13.