The girls’ tennis season at Vashon High School got underway on March 1.

With several returning players and a large turnout, the team looks good for the new season. After two weeks of spotty weather limiting practices, match play finally got underway last week with two home matches. Fortunately, both match days were blessed with beautiful sunshine, which helped compensate for a rainy start to the season.

Despite limited practices, the girls’ team got off to a great start against Cascade Christian on Wednesday. This was not only the team’s first match, but a league match as well. The Pirates swept every match. Number one singles player Taryn Mulvihill, and number two singles player Lizzie Maciejewski, both took wins to open the match. Number two doubles Hannah Nelson and Beka Lematua, rolled through their match in straight sets, as did number three doubles Tobin Vaughan and Emme Osborne. Number one doubles Emmaline Wittwer and Sierra Richter, had the toughest match, splitting the first two sets but coming through with their best play while winning in a third set tiebreaker. The junior varsity team also looked great winning all their doubles matches.

On Friday, the Pirates played King’s High School. This was a much tougher matchup. All the matches, varsity and JV, were even. In the end, the Pirates were able to earn a hard-fought 3-2 victory. The Pirates won both singles matches; Mulvihill pulled out a long, hard three- set match, and Maciejewski took a tough two-setter. Number one doubles Wittwer and Richter, and number three doubles Vaughan and Osborne, lost close matches. Fortunately, number two doubles Hannah Nelson and Yulia Fiala, were able to win their match and the Pirates went on to win overall. The JV matches were also quite close, but King’s won the majority of those matches.

Both matches were well-attended and well-played, especially considering the lack of practice time. It was a nice week for the Pirates, getting off to 2-0 start.

This week, the team travelled to Charles Wright on Tuesday after press time and will take on South Kitsap on Wednesday. Both teams are expected to be quite strong and should test the Pirates. The following week, the Pirates will have home matches with Bush on Wednesday, March 30, and Lincoln on Friday, April 1.

— Pat Mulvihill is the head coach of the VHS girls’ tennis team.