Raider rackets challenged

Raider tennis was challenged in last week’s three matches by fatigue, long bus rides, and tough opponents.

LR traveled south to White Swan April 16 for a Central Washington B match against the Cougars. The four-hour bus ride came back to haunt the Raiders as both squads were swept by the Cougars.

Daniel Campobasso provided a bright spot for the Raider boys hanging in there with Xavier Valladares in the first, forcing a tiebreaker. The final score has Valladres winning 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.

“Daniel improved much over his first match with Xavier, which was our first match,” noted Head Coach Steve Archer. “That score was a loss at 6-1, 6-0.”

Lyric Witten’s loss to Maria A. Anguiano 6-4, 6-4 was the closest girls’ match.

In doubles, Areielle White and Tanya Ang forced a tiebreaker set, but could not come home with a win. The final score in their match was 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4).

Two days later, the Raider boys bounced back from the disappointing loss. Back home, they defeated the Okanogan Bulldogs 4-1.

Campobasso beat Nick Patterson soundly, 6-0, 6-1. Brandin Smith held off Dawnson McCoy 6-4, 6-1. And Edmund Fenton made his tennis debut against Noah Brooks, losing 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles, Campobasso and Smith sealed the win for the Raiders by beating Jose Alvarez and Bradley Nearents 6-2, 6-2.

The Raider girls’ match against the Bulldogs was not the rebound they were hoping; they were swept for the second time. Holly Carriere and Emily Williams both forced a third set, but could not secure a victory. In doubles White and Harmony Witten came close but lost 6-4, 6-4.

The Raiders travelled to Pateros April 19, where the boys racked up another win 4-1, and the girls improved but still lost 2-3.

Campobasso and Smith again won their singles matches and teamed up for a doubles win. Fenton improved in his second match of the season, losing to Ryan Durnell 6-4.

Emily Williams and Hayley Seylor gave the Raider girls their only two varsity wins of the week. Williams held back Ireland Looper 8-5, and Seylor snuck past Kisa McClosky 9-7.

In JV doubles action, the Raider girls picked up two more victories as Kendra Descoteaux and Harmony Witten beat Keira Moore and Shannon Smith 8-5 and Riley Stout and Hayley Seylor took down Madisyn Harrild and Erica Osorio 7-5.

Coach Archer liked the way the boys squad is improving at the right time of the season. “They are progressing very well as we head in to the final weeks of the season and heading into the district tournament,” he said.

For the Raiders girls, Archer hopes the tables will turn in their favor soon.

“Our girls are struggling to get back to winning,” he said. “They are working hard and hopefully break through again.”

Raider tennis doesn’t get much of a breather this week. They took on Oroville last night at LRHS courts and will travel to league-leading Liberty Bell tomorrow for a 4:30 p.m. match.