Dahlia Miller sends the tennis ball flying back. (Parker Hammons photo)
There’s more to the story than the win/loss record.
While it’s true the Coupeville High School girls’ tennis squad is 0-7 on the season after being nipped 3-2 Friday afternoon by visiting Friday Harbor, that’s not a complete reflection of how the Wolves have been playing.
A team comprised almost completely of younger players and netters new to the game, and one which has dodged a series of injuries, is virtually a shot or two away from being 7-0.
Six of those seven team losses have been by a 3-2 score, with the only one which wasn’t being 3-1 after a singles match was suspended by injury.
As Coupeville rebuilds its program after scraping together a partial roster a season ago, the present, and the future, are much brighter.
And one of the brightest spots is first-year player Dahlia Miller, the lone Wolf to have gone 7-0 this season.
She’s won 13 of 14 sets and been a consistent winner whether playing at #1 or #2 singles.
Friday, with Tenley Stuurmans missing in action, Miller moved to the top of the order and once again delivered, as did Brynn Parker, who slid into the #2 slot.
“It was great!” said CHS coach Starla Seal. “Dahlia and Brynn played well, played quickly, and they were focused and had some beautiful rallies.”
Miller took down a Friday Harbor player, Nikki Cole Clark, who battled at the district tourney last season, which bodes well for this year’s postseason run.
While Coupeville couldn’t get that elusive third win, dropping all three doubles clashes, their duos held up well under pressure.
“Our doubles (teams) played very nicely, great rallies,” Seal said.
“Delanie (Lewis) and Miles (Gerber) showed great promise and I’m very happy with how all of the girls played!”
Coupeville now hits the road for three of its next four matches before closing the regular season at home May 7 with Senior Night.
Brynn Parker (left) and Kauri Hamilton have bright tennis futures. (Shannon Hilborn photo)
Friday’s results:
Varsity:
1st Singles — Dahlia Miller beat Nikki Clark Cole 6-2, 6-2
2nd Singles — Brynn Parker beat Frankie Pignatiello 6-2, 6-4
1st Doubles — Kauri Hamilton/Ember Light lost to Hazel Leighton/Norah Leighton 6-1, 6-3
2nd Doubles — Samantha Wallace/Hailey Goldman lost to Kira Clark/Lyla Ovenell 6-0, 6-0
3rd Doubles — Delanie Lewis/Miles Gerber lost to Meadow Carlson/Sophia Ramirez 6-4, 6-2
JV:
4th Doubles — Chloe Ferguson/Rowan Stoner lost to Daisy Bautista/Kate Curtis 8-1
5th Doubles — Savannah Coxsey/Ashley Wells lost to Isabella Derksema/Indi Minter 8-3
Rowan Stoner patrols the net. (Parker Hammons photo)
Coupeville Sports 