Sports shorts: EHS volleyball and tennis

BOYS TENNIS

The Eatonville Cruisers boys tennis team wrapped up its regular season and competed in the League Tournament.

In their final match of the regular season, the Cruisers faced a tough challenge as they fell short to Charles Wright by a score of 3-2. Head Coach MaryAnn Baker emphasized that the score does not fully reflect the closely contested matches. Austen Quirie won two sets while playing as the No. 2 singles player. The No. 3 doubles team, Dana Bazan and Jackson Rockey, clinched victory in a thrilling third set tiebreaker. The No. 1 doubles team of Brody Thirtyacre & AJ Lightfoot played against a competitive opponent. Jacob Golding and Nate Goode, the No. 2 doubles pair, exhibited great resilience by pushing their match to a third set tie-breaker, although they narrowly missed the win.

The league tournament, hosted at the University of Puget Sound on Oct. 26-27, presented an opportunity for the Cruisers to shine. Despite not having any seeded players, Eatonville secured representation at the upcoming District III tournament. The League Tournament employed a unique format that placed the top 4 rated players or doubles teams into separate pools, while the remaining players and teams were determined by Waterfall draws. This setup ensured ample playing time for all participants, as they competed against the members of their respective pools. The top two winners from each pool earned spots at the District III tournament.

Eatonville was thrilled to have two of its players qualify for the District Tourney. Carl Lucas, a sophomore, secured his place by defeating East Jefferson's Spencer Fordham and Ayden Bailey from Annie Wright Academy.

The other EHS entry into the District Tourney came from Eatonville's No. 1 doubles team, Thirtyacre and Lightfoot. They managed impressive wins against opponents from CWA and East Jefferson but finished second in their pool.

Jacob Golding and Nate Goode, the No. 2 doubles duo, placed 4th in their pool, with close matches against formidable opponents from Vashon and Cascade Christian.

Senior Austen Quirie, known for his strong serves and excellent footwork, faced tough competition in his pool, including a match against the No. 1 seed, Reid Martin from East Jefferson.

VOLLEYBALL

The Eatonville Cruisers volleyball team closed out their season with a challenging final stretch, falling to Elma and Tenino in their last two matches, both with 3-0 scores. These losses contributed to their overall season record of 2-14. While the win-loss column may not shine brightly, the team showcased unwavering dedication and resilience throughout the season. They started with hope and determination, securing a couple of early wins. However, they encountered tough opponents as the season progressed. Despite the setbacks, the Cruisers maintained their fighting spirit and teamwork.