BELFAIR — Port Angeles earned a 5-1 win over North Mason in its final road match of the Olympic League boys tennis regular season.
“We have spent a significant amount of time exploring confidence and where it hides and how to find it,” Roughriders coach Gil Stockton said following Wednesday’s victory.
“It is incredibly important not only for the game of tennis and other games, but all aspects of life.
“The players all know that confidence is simply a result of preparation—the two words go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.
“We have worked hard with one aspect — preparation — and the other was all over the courts [Wednesday].
“[We] exuded confidence and played with abandonment, making the shots we have been emphasizing.”
Freshmen Daniel Basden and Kyler Tourbin earned their varsity letters by winning their respective doubles matches.
Stockton awarded the team game ball to Tourbin and Kyle Mabry for winning the No. 2 doubles match in three sets.
“It could have gone either way, but Mabrey and Tourbin wanted the win more,” Stockton said.
The Riders improve to 2-8 in league play and 4-8 overall.
“There were many ‘ah-ha’ moments as they realized that what they have been working on actually works,” Stockton said.
“It was gratifying as a coach to see the players finally play to the level they are capable of and have fun doing it.”
Port Angeles 5, North Mason 1
Singles
No. 1: Janson Pederson (PA) def. Zach Bamblin (NM) 6-0, 6-0.
No. 2: Kenny Soule (PA) def. Gus Sandquist (NM) 6-1, 6-3.
No. 3: Kenny Soule (PA) def. Gus Sandquist (NM) 6-1, 6-3.
Doubles
No. 1: Hall/Tilton (NM) def. Wes Duncan/Keenen Leslie (PA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
No. 2: Kyler Mabrey/Kyler Tourbin (PA) def. Carnahan/Six (NM) 6-0,5-7, 7-5.
No. 3: Kale Mehew/Daniel Basden (PA) def. Handyside/Mienke (NM) 6-2, 6-4.
No. 4: None.
