Coupeville Sports

Coupeville’s Tia Wurzrainer (left) and Avalon Renninger were nipped Tuesday in a bi-district playoff match in Redmond. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Coupeville High School girls tennis season ended Tuesday in rainy Redmond.

Well, actually it came to a close inside the field house at The Overlake School, on a dry court, encircled by basketball hoops and a rock climbing wall.

It was a fairly unusual setting for a tennis match.

Tumbling or wrestling mats were stashed right outside the court, while wayward shots were just begging to dent plaques on the gym wall dedicated to Overlake golfers who’ve made it to state.

By the looks of one row of plaques, which were drooping at odd angles, it seems that’s a challenge readily accepted by PE students.

On this day, the only match going on was a bi-district playoff match-up between Overlake’s Mihika Srinivasan and Kamala Meghji and Coupeville’s Avalon Renninger and Tia Wurzrainer.

While both duos came up with big shots, the Owls, the #3 seed from District 2, defended their “home”court, eventually knocking off the #2 seed from District 1 to the tune of 6-3, 6-2.

Srinivasan and Meghji advance to face the #1 seed from District 2 Saturday in the bi-district semifinals, chasing one of two tickets to the state tournament.

With the loss, Coupeville is done, but their next door neighbors have two teams still alive.

South Whidbey’s Allison Papritz and Mary Zisette, the #1 seed from District 1, are already in the semifinals.

Fellow Falcons Ainsley Nelson and Farriss Jokinen, the D-1 #3, play Wednesday in a loser-out match, trying to advance to spar with their own teammates in the final four.

While their season had ended, Wurzrainer and Renninger had a stellar run during their first go-round as Coupeville’s top doubles unit.

Having inherited the role from Payton Aparicio and Sage Renninger, who finished 4th at state as seniors, Tia and Avalon were team captains, fashioned a winning record and claimed 2nd place at the North Sound Conference tourney.

Only juniors, they are expected to return next spring for a final run under the guidance of long-time CHS net guru Ken Stange.