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Don Gronning
NEWPORT — The Newport Grizzlies tennis team is off to a good start in league play, with the girls sweeping Reardan/Davenport 5-0 at home Wednesday, March 25. The boys also got two singles wins.
The girls first doubles team of Marisa Dahl and Emmalee Doughty only gave up a single game in their two-set win.
“They are looking strong right now and continue to grow as a pair,” coach Brandon McDaniel said.
The number two doubles team of freshman Evelyn Malone and eighth grader Allie Erickson are young and talented, said McDaniel.
“They are playing great and growing leaps and bounds in every match,” McDaniel said. “They won their first varsity match at 6-3, 6-3.”
Girls’ singles players Heaven Cooper and Camrin Taxter got two set wins, McDaniel said. Maria Swiatkowska won her first set 6-2 and was leading the second 5-0 when her opponent injured her wrist and couldn’t continue before there was an official score.
The boys team won their matches, although they don’t have enough players for a full team.
Vance Vooge got a two-set win at No. 1 singles; Marcus Will did the same at No. 2 singles.
Last Friday Newport traveled to Sprague to take on Lind-Ritzville. The girls won 5-0.
“Marisa and Emmalee got the set score they were looking for with their first 6-0, 6-0 win of the season,” McDaniel said. “Evelyn and Allie took the biggest step forward I have seen from them this year and played some confident aggressive tennis on their way to a 6-3, 6-0 win.”
The girls’ singles players also performed well.
“Our top two singles in Heaven and Camrin both played great with Heaven shutting out her opponent 6-0, 6-0 and Camrin only allowing one game in the second set for a 6-0, 6-1 win,” McDaniel said. Only one player of the boys’ team made the trip, DJ Adkins, who lost 6-2, 6-2.
“DJ was our only boy who made the trip and could not quite hold off a pretty good Ritzville player,” McDaniel said. “He is only a freshman this year and has a great swing. I expect him to rebound and continue to grow.”
Newport plays St. George’s Wednesday, April 1 at 3 p.m. They travel to Chewelah for a 3 p.m. match Friday, April 4, then are home against Kettle Falls Monday, April 13 at 3 p.m.
