Pulling out a couple of close wins in singles was the difference for Everett as the Seagulls defeated host Oak Harbor 5-2 in tennis Friday, March 26.

Coach Horace Mells said, “Our best chance to win was in singles which were hard fought by all players. Cady O’Dell played well from start to finish. Erin Neilon started strong but was not able to maintain the pace in spite of her best effort. Laurin Rico dropped the first set but regrouped and finished strong. Clarissa Abadesco lost a hard fought three setter and continues to improve.”

O’Dell won in first singles 6-3, 6-4, and Rico came back to win third singles 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4.

Neilon fell 6-2, 4-6, 2-6 in second singles and Abadesco dropped fourth singles 6-1, 6-7(3), 2-6.

Although Oak Harbor lost all three doubles matches, Mells said the “doubles, with new parings, played hard and gave their best effort.”

Jordan Faralan and Kerry Rathsabanhdith were defeated in first doubles 6-3, 6-0; Shannon Neilon and Darcy Fremd fell in second doubles 7-5, 6-1; and Molly Van Dam and Jordan Trask lost in third doubles 6-0, 6-0.

Oak Harbor is now 1-5 for the year, and Everett is 3-1.

The Wildcats don’t play again until April 14 at Cascade; they return home April 16 with Snohomish at 3:45 p.m.