Sherman, T-Dub tennis battle it out

Lewis had first dibs against Belshe and the Sherman senior worked an 8-1 split for the win.

Wilson made Belshe work a little more in the nightcap, but still the Husky player proved to be too dominant on this night, moving ahead by an 8-6 margin.

In the other singles match, Sherman’s Katherine Shafer defeated Leslie Luna-Lopez by a score of 8-6.

“I was really proud of my little freshman (Wilson) taking on a very good senior player,” said TDW coach Debby Jones. “Leslie is stepping up to play some varsity matches and though she is waiting to get that first varsity win, she is putting in the work to improve and getting strong with each effort.”

On the doubles slate, TDW switched the course and won all three matches by lopsided scores.

Senior Katie Mazeski teamed up with Wilson to defeat Sherman’s tandem of Janet Guzman and Karolyn Kaseberg, 8-3.

Itzuri Hernandez and Alma Lopez added an 8-1 triumph over Sherman’s Hollie Kaseberg and Elvia Rubio, and in third doubles, Abi Herriges and Luna-Lopez defeated Jeanna Hill and Rebekah Bourgeois, 8-2.

The boys had three matches on the day with Sherman’s Brian Simantel playing two and Alex Riggs doing his work in another showdown.

Simantel lost his No. 1 tussle against TDW’s Griffin Martin by an 8-6 margin, but the Husky senior came back vigorously in his nightcap game for an 8-4 victory over Eagle Indian player, Cole McDowell.

In the final singles match, Tribe player Jose Santillan, who normally plays doubles, hit the court for a singles duel versus Alex Riggs.

Santillan worked a solid display of volleys, serves and aces to an 8-1 win.

“Our boys played some good matches,” said TDW coach Andrew Hughes. “They looked good. It was good to get them some extra court time.”

Sherman coach Leo Baptiste is feeling good about his team, a younger group led by state qualifiers, Simantel and Belshe.

It is early, so there is time to work the kinks.

“The team is looking pretty good,” Baptiste said. “Maddie is doing well so far and Brian has some potential.”

Sherman plays again at 2 p.m. Friday in Umatilla, while TDW has time off for spring break before the boys hit the courts in Hermiston at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, while the girls next host Hermiston at 4 p.m.