Story and photo by Doug Petrowski

In a match-up between two of the top 3A singles players in the area, Mountlake Terrace’s Nicki Bouche topped Everett’s Kindall Gordon 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Wednesday at Mountlake Terrace High School. The No. 1 singles win was one of many for Hawk players as the team won its first match of the year, 6-1.

The Bouche-Gordon match was a back-and-forth affair, with Gordon coming back to win the second set after Bouche had two match-point opportunities at 5-2. Despite the tough second-set lost, the Mountlake Terrace sophomore fought through the disappointment and picked up the victory.

“I was just frustrated,” Bouche said of the second-set meltdown. “I’m so competitive, and I know this. I want to win so bad I just get so frustrated with myself. And if I lose a point I never let go of it. I just think about what I did wrong. And then I just keep self-destructing.”

“I said to myself, ‘I’m just going to relax and focus on playing my game.’ And, obviously, it worked.”

Other Hawks picking up wins on Wednesday were Tina Liu and Allison Lorraine in singles competition, and the teams of McKayla Floe-Aysha Raza, Rebecca Simmons-Kaylee Cooper, and Sara Guillen-Abby McDermott in doubles matches.

The Hawks (1-2) get another home meet on Thursday as the Meadowdale Mavericks come to the Mountlake Terrace High School courts for a 3A Wesco South conference match-up. Start time is set for 3:30 p.m.

MTHS girls tennis results against Everett, March 20
Singles: Nicki Bouche (MTHS) d. Kindall Gordon 6-4, 5-7, 6-2?; Tina Liu (MTHS) d. Amber Smith 7-6 (7-2);  7-5; ?Allison Lorraine (MTHS) d. Sierra Bove 7-6, 4-6, 6-3?; Adrienne Muramoto (EHS) d. Nancy Nguyen (MTHS) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles: McKayla Floe/Aysha Raza (MTHS) d. Katherine Chanwiratana/Emely Olson 6-4, 6-2?; Rebecca Simmons/Kaylee Cooper (MTHS) d. Mirka Mendich/Johlinne Gentler 6-0, 7-5; ?Sara Guillen/Abby McDermott (MTHS) d. Michell Magbag/Rose Sidhu 6-3, 6-1