Tennis roundup: Camas doubles up for another state title
Lewis, Gianan defend 4A title by topping Union duo
By Paul Valencia, Columbian
High School Sports Reporter
Published: May 31, 2015, 12:00am
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Camas sophomore Hannah Gianan, left, and senior Jenn Lewis, after winning their second consecutive Class 4A state girls doubles title. (Photo courtesy of Dr. John Lewis)Photo Gallery
RICHLAND — Camas vs. Union.
A state championship on the line.
For the second year in a row.
For Jenn Lewis, it was almost too much.
“Oh my gosh it was so intense. My heart was like a rock in my chest. I didn’t know what to feel. I was so excited and so scared at the same time,” said Lewis, a senior from Camas.
By the end of the match Saturday at Richland High School, she and teammate Hannah Gianan felt like champions. They know that feeling well.
Lewis and Gianan won the Class 4A state girls tennis doubles title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Union’s Sydney Wallace and McKenzie Schreiner. Last year, the Camas duo topped Wallace and then-senior Jelena Vidovic.
“There was more pressure this year,” Gianan said. “Last year, it was just see what we could do, and we won.”
“Higher expectations this year,” Lewis said.
The Titans gave the Papermakers a battle.
Camas took a 4-1 lead in the first set, but Union rallied to tie 5-5. The Papermakers held serve, then broke the Titans for the first set. Camas never trailed in the second set, but most of the games were close.
“I didn’t feel like we were winning,” Lewis said. “They were always right with us. They’re such good girls, and they played really well. They pushed us.”
“I think we played fairly well,” Wallace, a junior, said. “I think we played to our potential. Some things here and there, of course. The match could have gone three sets. We’re right there with Hannah and Jenn.”
Wallace, by the way, had to leave soon after the match because she is a drum major with the Union band and was scheduled to perform at the Starlight Parade. But it is possible she and Schreiner will return to state next year.
“It was definitely enjoyable,” Schreiner said of her first experience of high school tennis. “I got to know my teammates. They’ve been the best role models. A great season.”
This is the end of the Lewis-Gianan combination. Lewis plans to play for Eastern Washington next school year.
“I’m still astounded that it’s over,” Lewis said. “It’s over. I’m done. Hannah, I’m done.”
So what will Gianan do without Lewis next year?
“She’s just going to cry,” Lewis said with a smile.
“I guess I’m playing singles,” Gianan said.
“She’ll do great,” Lewis added. “Hannah is a great player.”
On Saturday, Lewis and Gianan had one more day to celebrate a great partnership — with their second state championship.
3A state
Prairie senior Akari Baba completed her high school tennis career by claiming her third state medal.
Baba won the fourth-place match 6-0, 6-1 over Misa Takami of Hazen at Kennewick.
The fourth-place medal goes with a third-place finish last year and a doubles state title as a freshman with her sister.
In three postseason tournaments, Baba’s only loss was the state quarterfinal on Friday. And no match went three sets.
2A state
Ridgefield girls doubles team Sarah Kaufman and Sophie Bird placed sixth at the state tournament in Seattle.
The lost in the semifinal round 6-2, 6-3, and then fell in the third-place match 6-0, 6-3.
In boys doubles, Dat Vo and Thanh Vo lost in the fourth-place semifinal 7-6 (6), 6-2.
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