TJ girls defeat Decatur to open season

Raiders coach predicts stiff competition among NPSL teams.

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders opened the tennis season by defeating Decatur 5-0 Wednesday in a North Puget Sound League 4A girls tennis match.

The results are as follows:

Singles: Nancy Cabanas-TJ d. Julia Kizis 6-0, 6-0; Jamie Grall-TJ d. Kristina Nemekova 6-2, 6-1; Mia Rosa/Ally Peterson-TJ d. Rachel Kim/Giaan Nguyen 6-2, 6-0; Erica Dillard/Michelle Kim-TJ d. Ruth Magana/Kaeley Eves 6-0, 6-0; Violetta Pakhnuk/Gjianni White-TJ d. Bella Moore/Jane Hong 6-0, 6-2.

Despite his team’s strong start, Raider coach Andrew Buchan said it is too soon to predict how Thomas Jefferson will fare this season.

Federal Way High School has a couple of players who look strong, and most of the remaining teams return all or all but one of last year’s varsity players.

Buchan expects Auburn-Riverside, whom he believes only lost one senior last year, to be playing for the title, but Auburn Mountainview, who placed first in the NPSL last year, didn’t lose any and should not be ruled out.