Raider tennis preps for districts

Raider tennis had a busy week to close the regular season with matches in Wilson Creek, Liberty Bell, and at home last Saturday.

At Wilson Creek last Tuesday, the Raiders faced a Blue Devil squad that featured one boy and three girls.

The Raider boys played two singles matches against Adolfo Fernandez. Phoenix Shephard won his match 8-4 and Nick Rice defeated Fernandez 8-3.

For the girls, it was another frustrating set of matches as Emily Williams lost to Samantha Dowers by the close score of 8-5.

In doubles action, Holly Jo Carriere and Nicole Baker came within view of a win before dropping their match to Clarissa Hansen/ Mariah Bicondova 7-9.

The next day, the Raiders hit the road again, this time to Liberty Bell, headlined by the undefeated Perez brothers.

The Raiders were without Hayden Rodrigues, due to an injury. The Mountain Lions were also short and could not play a third singles match. In the two singles matches played, the Raiders were trounced by Liberty Bell.

Shephard lost to Manuel Perez 6-0, 6-1 and Nick Rice dropped his match to Carlos Perez 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles action, Daniel Campobasso and Brandin Smith took the first game from Daniel Sonnichsen and Josh Frey 6-3. Campobasso/Smith lost the next two games 4-6, 2-6.

For the girls singles play, the Raiders were swept,but in doubles they snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. This was the match of Meagan Bellamy and Hayley Seylor against Dawn Smith and Holly Brielle. Bellamy/Seylor refused to go under and forced a tiebreaker game in every set, wearing out Smith/Brielle. They won in what Head Coach Steve Archer called the “match of the day” 6-7(7-3), 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-5).

Saturday at home the Raiders finished the season series against the Mountain Lions.

Rodrigues was back in the lineup but lost to Carlos Perez by the scores of 6-4, 6-1. Rice tried his hand against Manuel Perez and also lost 6-0 in both sets. In doubles play, Campobasso/Smith faced Daniel Sonnichsen again but this time he was teamed up with Carlos Perez. Campobasso/Smith lost 0-6, 2-6.

The girls’ side was the same as on Wednesday, losing all singles matches. The bright moment came with a come-from-behind victory by the team of Hillary Carriere and Emily Williams over Dawn Smith/Holly Brielle. After losing the first set, Carriere/ Williams came back to win the next two, 5-7, 6-0, 6-6.

Now the Raiders must begin to prepare for the two-week District 6 tournament, which starts this Saturday at Omak High School at 10 a.m.