Sandpoint tennis edges Moscow 7-5 in districts-seeding match
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sandpoint’s Carter Johnson returns serve during his boys’ doubles match against Moscow on April 30.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Lily Anderson lunges toward the ball in her girls’ doubles match on April 30.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Jenny Slaveck watches the ball before hitting a forehand in her 7-6 first-set win over Moscow’s Nikki Johnson on April 30. Slaveck would win 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sandpoint senior Tessa Beeman watches a shot drop inbounds during her girls' doubles match against Moscow on April 30.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Tabor Dussault readies his forehand during his No. 2 boys' doubles win with Carter Johnson on April 30.
With district tournament seeding on the line, the Sandpoint tennis team rose to the occasion with a 7-5 team win over the visiting Moscow Bears on April 30.
“This was an important win against an extremely competitive league opponent,” Sandpoint tennis head coach Kent Anderson said. “Everyone played well.”
Look closer, however, and the 7-5 win was a tale of two teams with contrasting strengths. The Bears earned the bulk of their points off singles play — with apologies to Jenny Slaveck’s gutsy 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, of course. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, showed their uncanny depth by winning five of the six doubles matches on the day.
And most of those wins were convincing.
Although it took one set for Allura Livingston and Tessa Beeman to settle in, their poise and experience took over once the duo found its rhythm. Their good communication, Livingston’s serves and Beeman’s adept play at the net helped the seniors remain unbeaten in IEL play.
“Their teamwork and court presence is very disconcerting to their opponents,” Anderson said of the duo, who at times seemed more in sync than their opponents Ella and Emilia Fountain, whom just so happen to be identical twins.
Neither the talent drop-off nor the margin of victory crater for Sandpoint’s No. 2 girls doubles match. Lily Anderson and Olivia Ramirez took advantage of serving errors and Lily Anderson’s play at the net to win in a similarly definitive 6-3, 6-1, two-set win.
The boys’ doubles teams had steeper challenges, yet both teams were victorious. Declan Plummer’s play at the net helped he and Christian Story win at No. 1 boys’ doubles, while Carter Johnson and Tabor Dussault were locked into a battle at No. 2.
Sandpoint will play at Post Falls today at 3 p.m.
Sandpoint 7, Moscow 5
Sandpoint athletes in bold
GIRLS SINGLES: No. 1. Jenny Slaveck d. Nikki Johnson, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. No. 2 Chloe Sampson d. Hadley Goodvin, 7-5, 7-6. No. 3 Katrine Cornwall d. Denali Terry, 2-6, 7-6. 6-4.
GIRLS DOUBLES: No. 1 Allura Livingston/Tessa Beeman d. Ella Fountain/Emilia Fountain, 6-2, 6-2. No. 2 Lily Anderson/Olivia Ramirez d. Jayden Pope/Hannah Jenkins-Evans, 6-3. 6-1.
BOYS SINGLES: No. 1 Derek Wendt d. Charlie Johnson, 6-1, 6-0. No. 2 Peter Goebel d. Tyler Korn, 6-2. 6-4. No. 3 Cayden Kindred won by default.
BOYS DOUBLES: No. 1 Declan Plummer/Christian Story d. Riley Paine/Mattias Cornwall, 6-3, 7-5. No. 2 Tabor Dussault/Carter Johnson d. Evan Odberg/Clayton Hemming, 6-4, 6-2.
MIXED DOUBLES: Benny Postell/Sammy Eng d. Anton Morau/Colleene McBride, 6-1, 6-2. Josh Jessen/Taryn McBride d. Ethan Miller/Brigid O’Sullivan, 3-6. 6-4, 6-2.