In a match much closer than the final result, the Lakewood girls tennis team fell 1-6 to Anacortes on March 21. Many of the matches were in Lakewoods favor at crucial moments, only to turn sour.
We lost the close ones. Were right in there but were making critical mistakes at the end. Similar to the Burlington match, we just couldnt quite pull it off, said Coach Bob Walker.
No better example of that could be made than in No. 1 singles where Katrina Wentz came from behind in both sets only to fall 4-6, 5-7. Wentz battled back and forth with Anacortes Sarah Koss, but could not overcome Koss groundstrokes and powerful serve.
In No. 2 doubles, Courtney Prosser and Jessica Nielson shook off a tough first set to make their match competitive, but also fell short in the decisive third set 0-6, 6-4, 4-6.
The No. 1 doubles team of Jillian and Jocelyn Shafer fared no better as Anacortes top group of Casey Anderson and Connie Grimnes attacked the net successfully. The Lakewood team fought hard and survived a potentially injurious tumble by Jillian Shafer midway through the second set.
The lone match victory for Lakewood came as Sara Boe clobbered her Anacortes counterpart Ahra Jo 6-4, 6-1. Boes steady baseline strokes rattled Jo and kept her guessing the whole match.
Unfortunately, Boes victory would not be enough for Lakewood.
It seemed like in most of the matches we were always one game behind, said coach Walker.
The girls play again April 2 at Burlington.