STATE TENNIS: Enumclaw, White River players land berths into state tournaments

Enumclaw High’s girls doubles team of Rebekah Johnson and Gina Sanders are headed to the 3A state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Tri Cities Court Club and Kamiakin High School. White River High’s Courtney Hall will be the team’s lone representative into the Class 2A state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

By Brenda Sexton • May 26, 2011 12:59 pm

Enumclaw

Enumclaw High’s girls doubles team of Rebekah Johnson and Gina Sanders are headed to the 3A state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Tri Cities Court Club and Kamiakin High School.

The Hornet duo earned their spot at state as the No. 5 seed out of the West Central District tournament, which closed out play Saturday at Sprinker Recreation Center.

Johnson and Sanders opened the district tournament with a first-round bye and then topped their Decatur nemesis in the next match. The pair then dropped two straight, the first match to Columbia River Friday and the second to Auburn Mountainview Saturday.

Saturday’s match was for the No. 3 and No. 5 seeds into state and the Hornet duo fell 7-6, 6-2.

White River

White River High’s Courtney Hall will be the team’s lone representative into the Class 2A state tournament Friday and Saturday at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Opening round pairings were not available at press time, but can be found at www.wiaa.com.

After finishing the regular season with only two losses and ranked No. 2 in the league, Hall finished the league tournament as the No. 3 seed going into the subdistrict tournament where she claimed the No. 8 seed into the West Central District tournament.

At the district tournament, Hall won her first match against a North Kitsap player. She dropped her second match against the defending state champion and then faced league nemesis Rachel Knight of Fife, who had defeated Hall during the regular season and again at the league tournament.

This time it was Hall’s turn to win; playing strong she defeated Knight in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.

The win pitted Hall against Clover Park’s Sylvia Brummitt in a winner-to-state, loser-out match Hall was up to the challenge, dumping Brummitt in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, a convincing win and a No. 5 seed to the state tournament.

“Courtney is a brilliant player and truly knows how to win,” coach Jason Swaser said. “I am extremely proud of Courtney and her hard work this year and we are looking forward to competing at the state level.”