Federal Way sweeps TJ

The Federal Way girls tennis team continued its undefeated season Monday with a 5-0 win over Jefferson.

The Eagles swept both singles matches and all three doubles matches.

“We have a lot of strong players,” Kristen Yates said. “We’re consistent with our matches.”

Leading the way for Federal Way was Kristen Yates at No. 1 singles and Danielle Yellam at No. 2 singles.

Yates beat Natalia Goding 6-0, 6-0. Yellam defeated Killian Lange 6-2, 6-0.

“We have strong doubles players and strong singles players — we’re strong all around,” Yellam said. “We’re better than last year. We hope to win the league. We can if we play at our best.”

In the No. 3 doubles match, Stephanie Raghubeer and Anne Tran came back to defeat Michelle Morse and Mitzi Moore 3-6, 6-4, 7-6.

In No. 2 doubles, Federal Way’s team of exchange students Clara Sacristan from Spain and Elodia DiRenzo from Italy beat Jefferson seniors Twila Moss and Jessiye Clark 6-1, 7-5.

In the No. 1 doubles match, Debbie Raghubeer and Tara Byrne beat Katie Schultz and Uyen Tran 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Tran, a ninth-grader, and Schultz, a sophomore, played together in the summer, but this was their first high school match together.

“It’s (Tran’s) first high school match and it’s against Federal Way, one of the best teams in the league,” Buchan said. “I wish she could have had some practice matches. She’s a good player. She and Katie will play together for three years and this is a start. My hope is they’ll develop into a state-caliber team, but it’s going to take time. They’re playing a very good team today. If they can get to state this year, they can make a great run in a couple years.”

Jefferson’s best chance to make it to districts comes in the doubles teams.

Jessiye Clark and Twila Moss are 5-3 this season. Tran and Schultz have a chance if they can make the right adjustments.

“Potentially, they are a very good doubles teams, but it could take a while to get to that stage,” Buchan said.

Jefferson’s No. 3 doubles team of Faye Laie and Mitzi Moore also has a chance to get to districts.

“If we do make a run anywhere, it’s going to be in doubles,” Buchan said. “The Federal Way school district should have good representation at state.”

Also expected to do well in the post-season is Decatur’s Monica Loera-Sanchez and Jamie Chen, who helped Decatur beat Bethel 3-2 on Monday.

Loera-Sanchez defeated Melanie Sarreal 6-0, 6-1 and Chan easily handled Julie Chen 6-0, 6-1. Decatur’s No. 3 doubles team of Amanda Font and Jill Yotz were the deciding match, earning a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Madel Eusebio and Jenna Blocyznski.

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