![Game, set, and match. Corbin Atchley, sophomore, high fives Sanam Sidhu, freshman, after a rally with other club members. “I just joined [the club],” Sidhu said. “[I heard about it] on Instagram, they always post about it, I’ve been wanting to come. My parents used to play [net sports] too and they taught us, and then I learned from my brother.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MG_7715-2-1200x800.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![The teams prepare to start another play with just a few minutes left in the first half. The Lions were in the lead at halftime with a score of 27-0. At half time, the team went back to the locker rooms. “[We ate] orange slices,” Malos said. “[Then] our team came out and got the win.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_2385-1200x800.jpg)
The girls tennis team looks to rebuild after graduating seven seniors and losing coach Justin Carrier to an assistant coaching position at Pacific University. The team is now led by Coach Linn Beswick and captains Mackenzie Coronel, Emmalee Scheid, Emily Borne and Nicole Campbell, all seniors.
“We lost a lot of seniors last year, so I think the biggest challenge will be rebuilding our team,” Scheid said. “Thankfully, we have a lot of great players coming in.”
Coronel advanced all the way to the semifinals of the state tournament last year with doubles partner Emily Erbin. She hopes to have similar success this year with Campbell.
“Personally I hope to make it to state again with Shorty [Campbell],” Coronel said. “I have high hopes for us so we’ll see how it turns out, but I think we will have a pretty good turn out.”
Playing number two doubles this year will be the senior team of Scheid and Borne. “My personal goal is to obviously have a shot at state, but to also have a fun season and really get to know the underclassmen,” Scheid said.
At the top of the singles lineup is Ella Riddle, junior, who recently moved from Yorkshire, England. Riddle appears to be one of the top players in the league and has a great chance to make it to the state tournament.
Rebecca Cruze, sophomore, will play number two singles in her second year of varsity.
The rest of the lineup has already shifted multiple times during three preseason matches against Sunset, Barlow and Sprague. As the season continues, a less flexible lineup will be set. Other members of the team include Madelyn Kunstel, sophomore, Jenna Broadhurst, Priya Basak, Julia Casad, Callie Olson, Amanda Comings, juniors and Sarah Chung, senior.
Weather permitting, the next match will be tomorrow at Oregon City High School starting at about 3:45. On Thursday, the team will take on the Canby Cougars at home before heading into spring break.
“It’s going to be hard to pick up from the great season we had last year,” Coronel said, “but I’m still hopeful because the new members of the team are fairly good and optimistic.”
