Local tennis players claim bi-district titles

It was nearly a replay of the 4A Greater St. Helens League tournament with the same outcome.

Skyview’s Sammi Hampton, the defending 4A state singles champion, defeated Camas’ Esther Kwon 6-1, 6-0 to win the 4A bi-district tournament on Saturday at Olympia.

In doubles, Jen Lewis and Hannah Gianan of Camas defeeat Jelena Vidovic and Sydney Wallace of Union 7-6 (3), 6-4 to claim the bi-district title.

A week ago at the Vancouver Tennis Center, these same finals were played out for district titles with the same winners.

Joining these six local players at the state tournament will be Skyview’s doubles team of Olivia Coale and Darby Tinker, who placed seventh at bi-district to earn a state berth.

3A bi-district — Prairie’s Akari Baba won the tournament to claim a top seed to state, while Lauren Skelly of Columbia River and Fort Vancouver’s Angelina Polina also earned a spot at state.

Baba defeated Skelly in the semifinals 6-2, 6-1, and then defeated Polina in the final 6-2, 6-0. The final was also a rematch of last week’s 3A GSHL final won by Baba.

Amila Gogalija and Milla Benedetti of Mountain View also earned a spot at state by placing fifth.

Baba improved to 20-1 on the season and will be making her third appearance to state. She teamed with her sister Shiori to win the 3A doubles state title as a freshman.

4A BI-DISTRICT TOURNAMENT LOCAL RESULTS

Saturday

At Capitol City Court Club, Olympia

Singles

Semifinals

Esther Kwon (Camas) def. Megan Hagerty (Graham-Kapowsin) 6-1, 6-3; Sammi Hampton (Skyview) def. Lauren Thomquist (Auburn) 6-2, 6-0.

Championship

Hampton def. Kwon 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles

Semifinals

Jelena Vidovic/Sydney Wallace (Union) def. Kelson/Zhang (Olympia) 6-2, 6-3; Jen Lewis/Hannah Gianan (Camas) def. Park/Lee (Thomas Jefferson) 6-1, 6-1.

Championship

Lewis/Gianan def. Vidovic/Wallace 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Consolation

Semifinal: Qualls/Moore (Thomas Jefferson) def. Olivia Coale/Darby Tinker (Skyview) 6-2, 6-3.

Seventh-place: Coale/Tinker def. Larson/Walker (Puyallup) 7-5, 6-4.

3A BI-DISTRICT TOURNAMENT LOCAL RESULTS

Saturday

At Auburn Mountainview HS

Singles

Semifinals

Akari Baba (Prairie) def. Lauren Skelly (Columbia River) 6-2, 6-1; Angelina Polina (Fort Vancouver) def. Misa Takami (Hazen) 6-2, 6-1

Championship

Baba def. Polina 6-2, 6-0

Third place

Misa Takami (Hazen) def. Skelly (6-0, 6-3

Doubles

Consolation quarterfinals

Amila Gogalija/Milla Benedetti (Mountain View) def. Ranney/Ly (Shelton) 6-1, 6-0; Ashley Osler/Alex Wilmington (Columbia River) def. Jayne Piboonvarangoon/Kayli Troelsen (Columbia River) 6-2, 6-1

Consolation semifinals

Gogalija/Benedetti def. Ranney/Dickson (Shelton) 6-1, 6-1; Osler/Wilmington def. Corcoran/Dempsey (Kennedy) 6-1, 6-1.

Consolation-fourth place

Gogalija/Benedetti def. Osler/Wilmington 6-4, 6-0.