PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles girls tennis team will send three athletes onto the Class 3A West Central-Southwest Bi-District tournament after an impressive showing at this weekend’s 3A Olympic League subdistrict tournament.
Roughrider tandem Sam Manwell and Grace Van Rossen won the doubles tournament championship to advance to Bi-Districts next week in Tacoma, while Alexis Corn took second in the singles bracket to move on.
Manwell and Van Rossen didn’t drop a single set on their march to the title.
The duo won their first match 6-4, 7-6 over Port Angeles teammates Caylie Cook and Laney Boyd before taking their semifinal with relative ease, 6-3, 6-4, over North Kitsap’s Ana Yee and Taylor Skansi.
Manwell and Van Rossen were just as dominant in the final, beating North Kitsap’s Kelsey Grunigen and Bryana Bohl by the same score (6-3, 6-4).
“Sam and Grace saved their best tennis for the final,” Port Angeles coach Brian Gundersen said.
This will be the second straight Bi-District appearance for Manwell, who made it last year in doubles with then-senior Cassidy Fair-child.
Corn’s run to second place in the singles tournament makes her the first Rider singles player to reach Bi-Districts since Tinka Hannan did it in 2007.
“I thought Alexis played a very smart tournament, and I can’t wait to see how she does next week,” Gundersen said.
After a first round bye, Corn rolled past Bremerton’s Callie Wilson, 6-4, 6-0, and Olympic’s Victoria Lagate, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the final.
Corn ran into a buzz saw in that round, however, with North Kitsap’s Sarah Farmer winning in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.
The double-elimination tournament featured teams from Port Angeles, Bremerton, Olympic and North Kitsap. Only the top two in each bracket advanced.
The Riders had a strong showing throughout, with 10 of their 11 players advancing to the second day of the tournament.
Bi-Districts will be held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma.
There will be seven state berths up for grabs among 16 entries in both double-elimination tourneys.
The last Port Angeles tennis player to reach state was Hannan in 2007.
