C-W tennis teams enjoy wins in the sunshine

Home on a sunny Monday felt like heaven for the Camas and Washougal girls tennis players. The Papermakers swept Hudson’s Bay 6-0 and the Panthers prevailed over R.A. Long 5-1.

Wins for Camas went to Lily Hsu (6-0, 6-1), Hana Li (6-1, 6-3), Brie Ilarde (7-6, 6-2), and the doubles teams of Sydney Schwartz-Annike Sumpter (6-1, 6-1), Kaliee Esser-Raya Klein (6-1, 6-1) and Alicia Hamlin-Danika Jones (6-0, 6-1). Wins for Washougal went to Elsa Dinsmore (6-1, 7-6), Katie Tkchenko (6-0, 6-3), Aviv Bresler (6-4, 7-6), and doubles teams Jenna Connolly-Cassie Helland (6-3, 6-3) and Amanda Acheson-Corrine Murphy (6-2, 6-2).

Camas defeated Mountain View 4-2 April 12, in a match that featured approximately 120 tennis players.

“I’m really pleased to be able to provide the opportunity for 75 kids and their families to be involved in school sports, just by showing up,” said Camas head coach Jonathan Burton. “It was a fun match to coach.”

Camas clung on to a 3-2 advantage with one match to go. All eyes were on Esser and Klein as they battled their opponents for more than two hours. The two Papermakers have played soccer together for years, but tennis is a different game.

“It was only their third varsity match, but those two are very tenacious,” Burton said.

After losing the first set 0-6, Esser and Klein won the second set 7-5 and then came back to win a tiebreaker in the decisive set 9-7. Their hard fought win helped Camas beat Mountain View 4-2.

“I think that win meant a lot to them,” Burton said. “It was a satisfying victory for all of us because it puts us in position to place in the top three in league.”

Washougal and Hockinson each won three matches April 12, but the Hawks clinched the team victory on a 7-6 sets tiebreaker. Wins for the Panthers went to Bresler (6-3, 6-1), Allie Reeves-Shelby DeLong (6-7, 6-4, 6-3) and Acheson-Murphy (7-5, 6-1).

“We could see the rust coming off from spring break,” said Washougal head coach Linda Balholm. “The girls just need more court time outdoors, and this should be a good week for that. Things should be getting better for our girls.”

The Panthers play at Mark Morris today and Hockinson Thursday, and the Papermakers go to Prairie Wednesday. All three matches begin at 3:30 p.m.