BONNEY LAKE TENNIS: Panthers start with loss against Franklin Pierce

Published 4:11 pm Monday, September 14, 2009

The Bonney Lake High tennis team hit the road for its season opener Sept. 9 and fell 4-1 to Franklin Pierce.

“We had first match jitters and played a little too tight,” coach Damon DeLapp said. “We lost a close No. 2 singles and won a close No. 2 doubles. We had chances to win in other matches that the scores do not reflect.”

Bonney Lake’s lone point came in doubles action. Ben Davidson and Andrew Allen won in three sets, taking the first and third 7-5, 6-4. In other doubles play, Steve Scott and Devin Crump fell 6-2, 6-1 and Sam Davidson and Spencer Workman lost 6-1, 6-1.

In singles action, Taylor Pringle fell in four sets, dropping a 6-0 match in the opener, rallying to win two straight 7-6 and 9-7 and then losing 6-3. Zach Volin lost, 6-2, 6-2.

DeLapp said even though the Panthers played a South Puget Sound League 3A team, the match doesn’t count in the league standings. They will host Franklin Pierce Sept. 25.

He said the heart of this year’s team is his four seniors – Scott, Ben Davidson, Adrain Gonzalez and Ryan Slamen.

“I’ve had them on the team since they were freshman,” DeLapp said. “I also have three sets of brothers on the team. It is going to be a fun year.”

The coach added his team will be competitive, but he’s unable to tell at what level. But he’s sure “we will compete.”