Union tennis team hopes local support will lift Titans to titles

The Union girls tennis team vividly remembers the crowd cheering at the Tri-Cities Court Club last May, and the surge it seemed to give Kamiakin.

The hometown Braves were competing for the 3A state championship less than two miles from their Kennewick campus, and it showed with the boisterous support they received from spectators who lined courts for the championship matches and roared for every point.

It offered a significant home-court advantage, and Kamiakin walked away with both the singles and double championships and rolled to the team title as well. The Titans recall that scene, wondering if they can gain that same momentum this year.

The Class 3A boys and girls tennis championships begin today just across town at the Vancouver Tennis Center.

Union also appears to have a strong entry, loaded with state championship experience and a proven track record of success in the tournament. It has given the Titans a surge of confidence that they hope can steer the team toward the state title.

"Everyone's very excited," junior Christina Le said. "To me, that would be more exciting than winning state (as an individual). (Kamiakin) had that home-court advantage last year, but this year should be our year."

Last year gave Union plenty of reason to believe it could compete. Despite having only one singles and doubles entry, the Titans finished tied for second behind Kamiakin in the school's first season. And both of those entries have returned.

Megan Carter and Helen Tam — who finished sixth in doubles last season — will enter the tournament undefeated on the year.

Both players feel they are more mentally prepared for the tight matches they will face after a controversial stretch in last year's fourth-place game led to a disappointing loss.

Carter and Tam won their first set of that match against Lakeside's Catherine Phelps and Catherine Fitch and appeared poised to sweep through the second set when a couple contested calls raised the tensions of the match. The momentum swung, Carter and Tam lost the second set in a tiebreaker, and the final set 6-2 to fall into sixth place.

But both players said they have become mentally stronger in tight matches this year, adding that last year's disappointment better prepared them for a return this season.

"We've gone to three sets a few times," Carter said. "It just shows that we can overcome the mental battle."

Le believes she has also strengthened her mental game after falling in three sets to eventual state champ Brittney Reed of Kamiakin in last year's semifinals.

Le won the first set of that match, but felt she became conservative in the second set and allowed Reed to rally for the win. But Le — who has finished third in her first two trips to state — believes she is better now at blocking out the pressure of those matches and remaining aggressive.

It has also helped to get a stiff test in practice each day against freshman Victoria Tam, whom Union coach Dave Heitsch calls the most focused and competitive player he has coached.

Tam lost to Le in two sets at last weekend's bi-district championship match. But like Le, she has her eye on a state title this weekend as well. The competition, both players feel, has helped raise the level of their games.

"She's a great player," Le said. "She helps me with my game more."

Players believe that depth is Union's greatest strength. All four state participants feel a state title is within reach, and after finishing second with only two entries last year, the Titans believe their collective success could carry them even further.