TJ takes control of SPSL South

By CASEY OLSON

Sports editor

The Thomas Jefferson girls tennis team took early control of the South Puget Sound League South Division with a pair of wins last week. The Raiders downed Decatur Tuesday, 3-2, and Rogers Wednesday afternoon, 4-1. The wins moved TJ to 5-0 and leaves them as the lone unbeaten team in the SPSL South and on track to win their first league title since 1999.

“This team believes it can win the SPSL,” said TJ coach Andrew Buchan. “They worked hard during the offseason and, flat out, put themselves in a position where a championship could become a reality.”

Tuesday, the Raiders got pushed by the Gators in a battle of the two undefeated teams in the South. Jefferson swept all three doubles matches against Decatur. TJ’s Leisha Muraki and Uyen Tran fell into a 3-0 second-set deficit against Amanda Meadows and Liz Phung at No. 2 doubles, but won the final six games in a row for a 6-2, 6-3 win. At No. 3 doubles, Jefferson’s Trichell Waldo and Lacey Lowber beat Alison Iwasaki and Jennifer Hong, 6-2, 6-4. Defending SPSL South champs Katie Schultz and Corinna Fabre easily took No. 1 doubles, 6-2, 6-2.

“(Fabre and Schultz) are the best doubles team in the league and have an excellent chance at moving on in postseason,” Buchan said. “When that is coupled with the traditional TJ depth, it is difficult for other teams to beat us.”

The Gators’ two wins came from Jamie Chan at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, and Juli Eubanks at No. 2, 6-0, 6-2. The loss drops Decatur to 3-1 in league play.

Jefferson 4, Rogers 1

The Raiders easily beat Rogers Wednesday. Jefferson’s wins came from Fabre at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-1, Schultz at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-0, Muraki and Tran won a rugged three-setter at No. 1 doubles, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Sarah Lee and Claudia Miernowski won at No. 3, 6-3, 6-3.

“Going undefeated is not a goal of this team but winning the SPSL is,” Buchan said. “The rest of the season should be fun.”

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com

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