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Raider tennis players have been hitting the courts north and south, playing in Liberty Bell and Entiat.

In Liberty Bell March 26, the girls lost 2-3, and the boys lost 5-0.

Again, members of the small boys’ team won matches that are recorded as losses because players aren’t allowed to compete in multiple games, with Terrie Yazzie defeating Nick Fitzmaurice 8-3, and Tucker Keeley defeating Konnor Doran 8-3.

“Three matches stand out from our contest with Liberty Bell,” Head Coach Steve Archer said. “On the girls’ team, Tarissa Clark’s match at third singles was decided by a long and well-played tie-breaker.

Clark started behind, 5-1, tied it up at 7-all, the push through to grab the final two points, winning 9-7.

“The other strong girls’ match was at 1st girls doubles,” Archer continued. “Keziah Stice and Rainy Vargas dominated their first girls’ doubles match 6-2, 6-3.”

“Rainy’s serving has gone to a whole new level,” Archer said.

“On the boys’ team, Morgan George’s match at first singles came down to a deciding tie-breaker for the third set,” Archer said. “He had come back after a loss in the first set and took the second at 6-3. He came out strong in the tie-breaker, but an ending surge by White pushed him to the win by two points, 7-5.”

In Entiat on March 28, both the Raider boys and girls won 3-1.

“It was a good day for Raider Tennis,” Archer said. “Everyone was playing well and the scores reflected it. The exhilaration from the match extended to the long bus ride home, punctuated with group singing at the top of their lungs.”

“The closest matches were in girls’ first and second doubles,” Archer continued. “Two seniors, Rainy Vargas and Tarissa Clark, teamed up for the first time in doubles and almost pulled off a win against Entiat’s best players. Newcomer Heatherly Budravage teamed up with veteran Keziah Stice and pulled off a straight-sets win, 6-2, 7-5.”

The Raiders will play tennis again after spring break at 4 p.m. April 9 in Tonasket.