Eatonville Girls Tennis Goes 1-3 in Busy Four-Match Week, Honors Seniors on Thursday
- May 3
- 3 min read
The Eatonville Cruiser girls’ tennis team navigated a grueling four-match stretch last week, going 1-3 against a slate of tough opponents while showing resilience throughout the stretch. The week concluded Thursday with Senior Day, as coaches and parents honored eight players who have helped rebuild the program in recent years.
The Cruisers opened the week Monday at Steilacoom, falling 4-1. The lone bright spot came from the No. 3 doubles team of Claire Bertram and Toryn Amaral, who rallied for a three-set win, 4-6, 6-0, 10-5. At the singles positions, Haydin Kolowitz dropped her match at No. 1 singles 0-6, 1-6, while No. 2 Emory Simpson fell 3-6, 5-7. The No. 1 doubles team of Jessie Zumwalt and Isabel Volk also went three sets before losing 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, and Rilynne Johnson and Emma Abston fell at No. 2 doubles 5-7, 1-6.
Tuesday brought another road test at Washington, where the Cruisers were shut out 5-0. Charlotte Stumph made it competitive at No. 1 singles, winning the second set before dropping the match 2-6, 6-3, 2-6. Kolowitz lost at No. 2 singles 5-7, 2-6. All three doubles teams were competitive but came up short, with Bertram and Amaral dropping a tight tiebreak in the third set at No. 3 doubles, 1-6, 6-7.
Eatonville bounced back Wednesday with a dominant 5-0 sweep at Foss. Stumph and Simpson each won their singles matches without dropping a set, and all three doubles teams followed suit. Johnson and Abston did not drop a single game at No. 2 doubles, winning 6-0, 6-0.
The week closed Thursday at home against Franklin Pierce on Senior Day, with coaches and parents honoring Zumwalt, Volk, Stumph, Kolowitz, Johnson, Abston, Ashlynn Doble and Basil Haycook before the match. The Cruisers fell to Franklin Pierce 5-0 in their toughest test of the week. Zumwalt and Volk pushed their match to three sets at No. 1 doubles before losing 6-4, 2-6, 3-6.
"This is definitely a memorable group," head coach Alex Christiansen said. "Jessie Zumwalt, Isabel Volk, Charlotte Stumph, and Haydin Kolowitz have been part of the program for four years, while Rilynne Johnson, Emma Abston, and Ashlynn Doble joined in 2023. Basil Haycook joined us this year, and together, they've all played an important role in rebuilding our program after COVID."
The senior class has been central to a dramatic rise in program participation. In 2022, the year before several of them joined, Eatonville had just 10 players on the roster. This season the Cruisers fielded 36, the largest roster since 2016.
"That growth is a direct reflection of the energy and enthusiasm this group helped bring to our program," Christiansen said. "After graduating a large senior class last year, this group was asked to step into leadership roles, especially with so many new players joining the team. They rose to that challenge and helped set the tone for what our team wants to be."
The season was not without its obstacles. A difficult March brought numerous weather-related cancellations, testing the team's patience and preparation throughout the early part of the schedule.
"I'm proud of how they competed and never backed down, whether facing tough opponents or difficult weather conditions," Christiansen said. "It was a very challenging March with so many rainouts. These players dealt with adversity, and they've learned to keep fighting."
"This was a tough week of tennis with four straight matches," Christiansen added. "I was proud of how our team would fight each match against tough opponents. Our effort didn't wane from Monday through Thursday. Our girls played hard and competed for every point against some talented teams and players."
Eatonville will next compete in the league tournament at Clover Park beginning Thursday morning. Seeds and matchup information are expected to be released Monday.
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