Sequim’s boys tennis squad ran into a trio of tough teams last week, slipping to 4-7 in league play after a trio of tough losses.
The Wolves opened the week with a 5-2 loss to visiting Bainbridge, the league’s No. 3 team, on Oct. 7.
Lincoln Bear survived a tough match at No. 2 singles to knock off Spartan Austin Williams 7-6, 6-3, and No. 3 singles player Mason Rapelje dominated his match, 1 6-0, 6-1 win over Connor Firth.
But the Kitsap County squad picked up a win at No. 1 singles and swept the doubles matches in straight sets.
Two days later in Silverdale, the host Olympic Trojans proved too deep in a 5-2 win over the Wolves.
Bear survived a three-set thriller to top Levi Caldwell 6-4, 6-7 and 6-3, while Rapelje picked up another win at No. 3 singles with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Spencer Samson.
Josh Loucks and Adrian Mendez came within a point of taking a match at No.3. doubles but eventually fell 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 to Olympic’s Roger Gasow and Zach Mercer.
To close the week, rival Port Angeles —sitting in second place in league at 10-2 — knocked off the Wolves 7-0 in Sequim.
The Riders swept the doubles matches without giving up a set, but a couple of singles matches were closely contended.
Sky Gelder needed three sets to top SHS’s Lincoln Bear (3-6, 6-4, 7-5), while Rapelje took PA’s Garret Buerer to a third set before falling (6-1, 3-6, 7-5).
“Those singles matches could’ve gone either way and we were fortunate to get them both,” Riders coach Brian Gundersen said.
Sequim was scheduled to host North Kitsap on Oct. 15; results were not available at press time.
Looking ahead
Sequim has an away-and-home to close out the regular season, playing at Bremerton on Oct 17 and at home versus the Knights on Oct. 21 in a make-up match.
The Olympic League tournament is Oct. 25-26 in Poulsbo.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Lincoln Bear preps a forehand volley in a 7-6, 6-3 win over Bainbridge’s Austin Williams on Oct. 7.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Jack Creceluis battles Bainbridge’s Garner Nall in an Olympic League match on Oct. 7 in Sequim.
