Tennis notes: Saxons’ new courts means no more traveling to Comstock to practice

Mike McLaughlin isn’t going to miss the bus.

For four seasons, while Ferris High School has been under renovation, the girls tennis coach would load up his squad after classes let out and take them to Comstock Park, where they would hold practices.

As is typical of a Pacific Northwest spring, there would be afternoon sessions where the team would huddle together to get out of the rain while the call went out for the bus to come back and take them back to school.

“It was just a hassle and it ate into our practice time,” McLaughlin said. “Some of my girls could drive over, but most of them took the bus.”

This year, the Saxons have 10 brand new courts at school and things are returning to normal.

Better than normal in fact – the 10 courts are two more than the school had before the remodel.

“Oh, it’s heaven,” the coach said. “They did a great job on the courts and it’s so nice to be able to get out there and get our work in.

“Having 10 courts is so nice. We’re able to get our matches in a lot faster than we could before.

“Most of the schools in the Greater Spokane League now have 10 courts, so we can keep up.”

Getting the varsity and junior varsity back home is a plus for McLaughlin’s C Squad, which can now make use of the courts at Comstock Park.

“They’re still using the bus, but that now lets another 30 girls practice and learn the game.”

The Saxons have had to take an “easy come, easy go” attitude when it comes to their No. 1 singles player.

A year ago freshman Courtney Provan transferred to the South Hill from New Jersey and took over as the team’s top singles player – winning district and regionals and going on to place fourth at last year’s State 4A girls singles tournament.

“In all the years I’ve been coaching I’ve never had a year like last year,” McLaughlin said. “Courtney moved in and became our No. 1 singles player. Kjersti Strandness came in as a freshman and became our No. 2 singles player and a senior who played No. 1 for two years was suddenly our No. 3 singles player.”

But Provan went back to New Jersey to live with her mother this year.

“When the family moved to Spokane last year, the kids all moved out here with their dad,” the coach explained “Their mother stayed back East. This year the girls all went back to be with mom and the boys stayed with dad. Her brother is one of our top singles players this year.”

Strandness has moved up to No. 1 singles this year.

CV remains the favorite

Central Valley, which lost just two players off of last year’s GSL championship team, leads the league as it heads into its final weeks.

“Their No. 1 player, Kyra Harames has been very good, although she lost a close match to the girl from Shadle Park (Audra Spargo),” McLaughlin said. “Other than that, she’s been very steady. We played CV in a non-league match and Kjersti is still mad at herself for losing that match.

“Lizzy Marcinkowski at Gonzaga Prep has been very good, so it’s going to be interesting to see what happens at No. 1, but team-wise, CV is still the team to beat.”

McLaughlin said there will be two key match-ups to keep an eye on.

“We’re going to play CV Thursday,” he said. “That will tell us a lot about the league title.  And the following week, CV plays University and U-Hi may have the best chance of knocking them off.”