The Sumner boys tennis team has a lot to live up to this year, having topped the SPSL 3A league charts last year.

But being in the new 4A league doesn’t seem to be slowing them down, as the Spartans are toting an undefeated 8-0 league record after two victories over Puyallup and Curtis high schools.

The Sept. 28 game against Puyallup saw the Spartans emerge ahead 3-2.

Puyallup took the 1st singles court 7-5 and 6-4 against Collin Feely.

The Spartans came back on the 2nd singles court 6-1, 6-1 with Dashawn Moore.

First doubles was another Sumner victory 6-2, 6-4 with Zaylan Jacobsen and Kyle Vanhout.

Second doubles went to Puyallup 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 against Andrew Flury and Kieran Zylstra.

Third doubles cinched the Spartan victory 6-0, 6-3 with Gabe Miller and PJ Boogard.

Sumner nearly shut out Curtis on Sept. 29, coming away with a 4-1 win.

Jacobsen took the first singles court 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Curtis nabbed the second singles court against Moore 7-5, 6-4.

Gabe Smith and Vanhout were practically unchallenged in taking the first doubles court with 6-1, 6-0.

The second doubles went to Richard Mark and Marcus Peterson 6-3, 6-1.

Boogard and Feely too the third doubles court 6-2, 2-0.

Jacobsen is this year’s top player, spending most of his time in No. 1 singles, but also plays a bit in No. 1 doubles as well, said co-coach Chris Heacox.

“He’s been a 1st Team player every year, and has been to state in singles every year,” Heacox said, mentioning that Jacobson may be the first Sumner tennis player to qualify for state at the 2A, 3A and 4A levels, if this year pans out for him.

Dominating the doubles court this year is junior Kyle Vanhout and sophomores Richard Mark and Marcus Peterson.

Vanhout qualified for state last year, was named first team All League and was on the Doubles Team of the Year.

Mark and Peterson went to districts last year, and were only one match away from making it to state, Heacox said, mentioning that they’re back as partners again at No. 2 doubles.

Looking at the team’s overall top-notch performance, Heacox said they have an excellent chance of sending one, or even two, double teams to districts, as well as a singles player.

To reach 4A districts, the team must finish in the top six in the league. To qualify for state from there, players need to win their first two district matches, or win four overall.

“Advancing to state is going to be a challenge because the district is so tough, but hopefully we continue our run of sending boys to state,” Heacox said.

The Spartan’s next home match is against Bellarmine at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 5.

BONNEY LAKE

Bonney Lake is a powerhouse in the Pierce County 3A league, holding a 7-2 league record aided by a recent victory over Mount Tahoma and a shutout against Bethel.

The Panthers came out ahead 4-1 during the Sept. 27 match against Mount Tahoma.

Mount Tahoma captured the No. 1 singles match against Jordan Byersdorf in a super tie-breaker match 6-7(1-7), 6-3, (10-8).

Noah Lucas took the second singles 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

First doubles went to Logan DeLapp and Jeremy Kurtz 6-3, 6-3.

Alex Nguyen and Josh Ning took second doubles 6-3, 6-1 and Wyatt Johnson and Zach Goff nabbed third doubles 6-4, 6-0.

Bonney Lake shut out Bethel 5-0 on Sept. 29.

Kurtz took first singles 6-0, 6-0, losing only four points the entire match, and Lucas grabbed second singles 6-1, 6-0.

The DeLapp/Byersdorf duo nabbed first doubles 6-4, 6-4, and Ning and Nguyen captured second doubles 6-3, 6-0.

Third doubles went to Johnson and Goff 6-3, 4-0.

Byersdorf is the Panthers’ top singles player this year, with the DeLapp and Kurtz team-up leading in the doubles court, said coach Damon DeLapp.

DeLapp and Kurtz currently hold a 7-1 record this year, the coach continued, and while Byersdorf has a 2-6 record this year, “his record… doesn’t do justice to the level of play that he is playing at or that most of his matches are going deep into the scoring.”

Coach DeLapp said that with Bonney Lake third in the league, their goal to get the top two spots at the end of the year are still within reach.

“This might just come down to the last couple of matches,” he said. “I have a feeling we will be in position of a good finish.”

The Panther’s next match is against Lincoln at Oct. 6 at the Star Center.