The Sumner Spartans girls tennis team starts the season having lost no players since last year and coach Chris Heacox is proud of the skills his players have shown.

“I feel I have a lot of varsity-level players at the junior varsity level,” Heacox, who teaches at Mountain View Middle School, said.

A turnout of 45, up from about 30 last year, provides a strong force and Heacox said he sees a lot of promise.

“One of our overall strengths is going to be our depth. We have a lot of returning players this year,” he said.

Heacox sees strength in the doubles teams of junior Emily Taylor and sophomore Reanne Charuhas and seniors Erinn Carlson and Lyndsey Plute.

For the singles players, Heacox said senior Brittany Fulton seems poised for success.

The season begins March 18 with a match at North Thurston.