SHS tennis looks to build on success

The Sandpoint high school tennis team is gearing up for its first 4A Inland Empire League match of the season against Moscow on Tuesday, Match 29.

The Bulldogs development as a team could be considered ahead of schedule. They’re a young team with some experience mixed in.

But even head coach Kent Anderson has been a bit taken aback by the early season success Sandpoint has had.

“Our last practice before Post Falls we were doing a couple drills and had some parents stop by,” Anderson said. “They were watching (Olivia) Petruso and they said wow, you guys are really hitting it.”

“I don’t know what it is, but we’re looking good and developing fairly quickly. If we keep playing the way we are, we’re going to be hard to beat.”

Sandpoint’s first events of the season haven’t had much implications on what or where they’re going to be at the end of the year but this matchup against Moscow will be its first major match of the season.

“We beat them both times last year, but it can always go either way,” Anderson said. “Both teams get motivated for this match and want to play to the best of their abilities.”

Anderson is going into this matchup against Moscow a little bit blind because the Bears have a new head coach.

He does know that Moscow’s number one boys singles player is their best player, meaning Cayden Kindred will have his hands full.

Kindred has had some battles during the early stages of his season, especially after not playing the sport for two years.

“We know he can make it to state in boys singles,” Anderson said. “He’s totally committed every time he’s on the court. But he’s going to have to improve.”

Sandpoint will be without some key contributors for its match against the Bears.

Jacob Dawson, who is normally paired up with Tyler Korn at number one doubles, will be out and for the second match in a row the Bulldogs will be without number two and number three girls singles players Maise Brazill and Adrian Doty.

Both Brazill and Doty have had great seasons leading up to this point, but Aubrey Knowles, who will be stepping in place of Brazill, will be a serviceable replacement.

“ (Aubrey) Knowles played in the Clarkston tournament and played really well,” Anderson said. “She works with me in the offseason and I know what she’s capable of. She’s really solid.”

The doubles pairings have been the strength of Sandpoint’s tennis team, especially the number two girls team of Maile Evans and Patch Howard.

The duo hasn’t lost a single game in the last three matches and are a brand new pairing to Sandpoint’s tennis program.

Howard competed in mixed doubles a year ago and Evans’ doubles partner from a year ago is out with a knee injury.

What might be the Bulldogs best tandem ended up coming together almost by accident.

“They are rolling and I love the way they play together,” Anderson said. “They are both better tennis players than they were a year ago, and because they’re better, they’re moving in and out with more confidence.”