SHS sports preview: Girls tennis

2015 record in league, overall: 4-8, 5-9; eighth in Olympic League; one doubles team to state

Head coach: Justine Wagner    (third year)

Varsity returning players: Kaleigh Cassal (sr.), Karen Chan (sr.), Katelyn Wake (jr.)

Newcomers: Andrea Albaugh (so.), Lindsey Carlson (sr.), Jessica Craig (sr.), Melissa Copeland (sr.), Hannah D’Amico (jr.), Tea’ Gauthun (so.), Cortney Gosset (jr.), Amanda He (fr.), Cheyenne Huffman sr. Isabelle Hugonoit (fr.), Riann Perreira (so.), Stephanie LaCour (jr.), Elizabeth Merrikin (sr.), Ashley Rosales (fr.), Kelly Meyer (fr.)

Key league competition: North Kitsap, Kingston, Bremerton, Olympic

A little rough preseason weather wasn’t going to keep Sequim’s girls tennis squad from missing practice — but it did keep them off their own courts.

They’ll have to get used to it. In 2016, six of the Wolves’ first seven matches are on the road.

“It is what it is,” Sequim coach Justine Wagner said. “At the end of the season I’ll be happy (to stay home).”

Sequim’s girls went 4-8 in league matches last season and saw then senior-junior combo Cheyenne Sokkappa and Karen Chan battle their way to a state berth, where they went 2-2 overall.

Chan is back along with Kaleigh Cassal and Katelyn Wake as team veterans.

“They’re my most consistent,” Wagner said of the trio.

Sequim boasts a lineup with 18 players, many of whom Wagner said show promise and look to be playoff ready in at least two seasons.

“We have a lot of hard workers and coachable girls,” she said.

Wagner expects North Kitsap to be the strongest team in the Olympic League by far, with state singles champ Danya Wallis back leading a Viking squad that placed second in the 2A classification overall.

“We’ll be middle of the pack this year,” Wagner said of Sequim.

Back as assistant coach is former head coach Mark Textor, Wagner’s father.

“It worked for the boys’ season (in the fall),” Wagner said of the coaching partnership “He’s been absolutely awesome.”