Sumner High tennis coach Chris Heacox returns for his fifth year as head of the boys team this fall and is looking forward to developing the skills of his players.

The team graduated seven of its 14 players from last season and has just two returning players this fall.

Juniors Grant Fulton and Jacob Hewett return to play singles matches for the team.

Heacox said the team’s 15 players are mostly freshman and sophomores and the team is honing its skills. He said while the doubles players show experience, the team’s strength is in its singles players.

“We’re definitely young and we’re working to get better every day,” he said.

The team’s first match is at 3:15 p.m. Sept. 9 at home against North Thurston in nonleague play.