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The Kamiakin girls tennis team took a giant step toward winning some hardware Friday, advancing singles player Brittney Reed and the doubles team of Demie Warner and Ali Welch to the semifinals of the 3A state tournament at the Tri-City Court Club.
Braves senior Caitlin Bampton is also figuring into the mix, winning two consolation matches after losing her opening match of the tournament.
"It's been a great day of tennis," said Kamiakin girls coach Sarah Miller, whose team last won a state team title in 1999. "When you are fighting for a team title, (Caitlin's) second win was key for us. She could have tossed in the towel."
Today's semifinals start at 8:30 a.m., while the boys and girls doubles championship matches will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Court Club, followed by the singles at 2 p.m.
Reed, just a freshman, opened play Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Auburn's Sandy Dennett to earn a date with 2006 state champion Nikole Novikova of Bellevue in the quarterfinals.
Novikova, who had lost just one match in her high school career, suffered her second loss at the hands of Reed, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
"That match was one of the finest I've seen in a while," Miller said.
Reed led 4-2 in the first set before Novikova tied things up at 4. Reed then broke Novikova and finished off the set by holding serve.
Novikova got back on track in the second set, taking a 5-0 lead before Reed managed to hold serve to win a game. Novikova served out the set, but a lingering right shoulder injury flared, affecting her in the third set.
Reed cruised through the final set as Novikova struggled with her serve and overhead volley.
"She played really well in the second set and I got down on myself," said Reed, who improved to 27-0 this season. "In the third, I picked up my focus. I really wanted to win. The game plan changed in the third. I changed the pace and it threw her off her game. I think it was good for me to go three sets, it made me step up more."
Reed will play Christina Le of Union in the semifinals. Le was third last year in the 4A singles tournament. In the other semifinal, Ivana Krommelova of Arlington will play Natalie Allen of Holy Names.
Bampton dropped her first match to Krommelova, 6-2, 6-4, then rallied for a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jodi Owen of Franklin Pierce to earn a consolation quarterfinal match with Novikova.
"When my mom told me I was playing her, I thought I'd get my butt kicked," Bampton said. "She's intimidating."
But Bampton never backed down. The senior left-hander won the first set 6-3 before dropping the second 6-2. Down 3-0 in the third set, Bampton won six straight games to eliminate Novikova.
"Down 3-0, all I could think was my legs were tired," Bampton said. "I was almost ready to pack it in, but seeing her miss some shots got me going again. This is really exciting. This has been the best season of tennis I've had."
Bampton will face Maggie Becker of White River in a loser-out match today.
Warner and Welch struggled to get their game on track in their opening match against Jenna Russell and Stephanie Hughes of Capital, but once the sophomore duo settled in, they pulled out a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
The Kamiakin pair then beat Catherine Phelps and Catherine Fitch of Lakeside 6-1, 7-6 (3) to reach the semifinals, where they will face last year's second-place team of Christine Wang and Maria Homnick of Columbia River.
Kennewick's Nele Zorn won her opening match against Becker, 6-2, 6-0, but lost her quarterfinal match to Allen and a loser-out match to Grace Porter of Bainbridge Island.
In the boys draw, Hanford's Jake Knox and Curtis Lan each won their first matches in convincing fashion, but were sent to the consolation round with quarterfinal losses.
Knox dropped a 6-3, 6-1 match to Frederick Walsh of Newport, but stayed alive with a 6-2, 6-2 over Andy Monroe of Everett in the consolation quarterfinals.
"I'm still in it," said Knox, who teamed with Lan last year to place third in doubles. "I hope to do well in the back draw."
Knox will play Kamiakin's Josh Thornton in today's consolation semifinals. Thornton, who lost his opening match to Derek Cooley of Fort Vancou-ver 6-4, 7-5, remained in the draw with loser-out victories over Alex Chou of Columbia River and Justin Hike of Olympic.
Nick Kamisar of Skyline beat Lan 6-1, 6-3 in the quarters, but Lan rebounded with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Conner Thorp of Kennedy in the consolation quarterfinals.
"He was like a wall," Lan said of Kamisar. "He hit the ball way too deep and I couldn't swing through my forehand."
Two-time defending champion Davis Mangham of Lakeside, who has won 59 straight matches, cruised through his first two matches to reach the semifinals. Mangham opened with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Chou, then made quick work of Cooley, 6-0, 6-2.
"My goal is to get to the finals," said Mangham, who will play Kamisar in the semifinals. "It's going the way I want it to."
In doubles action, Kamiakin's Anh-Vu Thai and Peter Brown are still alive in the consolation bracket after losing a 6-2, 6-0 quarterfinal match to Mark Shkrebtan and Michael Schaeffer of Sammamish.
3A state tournament
Boys
Kamiakin High School
Singles
First round
Nick Kamisar, Skyline d. Ryan Nagamatsu, Hazen, 6-4, 6-2; Curtis Lan, Hanford d. Andy Monroe, Everett, 6-1, 6-1; Derek Cooley, Fort Vancouver d. Josh Thornton, Kamiakin, 6-4, 7-5; Davis Mangham, Lakeside d. Alex Chou, Columbia, 6-2, 6-0; Frederick Walsh, Newport d. Drew Monroe, Sumner, 6-1, 6-0; Jake Knox, Hanford d. Connor Thorp, Kennedy, 6-3, 6-2; Justin Hike, Olympic d. Ricardo Celis, Shorecrest, 6-1, 6-3; Lance Wilheim, Peninsula d. Shuhel Matsuya, Seattle Prep, 6-2, 6-0.
Quarterfinals
Nick Kamisar, Skyline d. Curtis Lan, Hanford, 6-1, 6-3; Davis Mangham, Lakeside d. Derek Cooley, Fort Vancouver, 6-0, 6-2; Frederick Walsh, Newport d. Jake Knox, Hanford, 6-3, 6-1; Lance Wilheim, Peninsula d. Justin Hike, Olympic, 6-1, 6-3.
Consolation
First round
Andy Monroe, Everett d. Ryan Nagamatsu, Hazen, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1; Josh Thornton, Kamiakin d. Alex Chou, Columbia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1; Connor Thorp, Kennedy d. Drew Monroe, Sumner, 6-4, 6-0; Shuhel Matsuya, Seattle Prep d. Ricardo Celis, Shorecrest, 6-2, 6-0.
Quarterfinals
Jake Knox, Hanford d. Andy Monroe, Everett, 6-2, 6-2; Josh Thornton, Kamiakin d. Justin Hike, Olympic, 6-2, 6-2; Curtis Lan, Hanford d. Connor Thorp, Kennedy, 6-1, 6-3; Shuhel Matsuya, Seattle Prep d. Derek Cooley, Fort Vancouver, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles
First round
Steven Miyauchi-Zach Chen, Newport d. Trevor Thompson-Trevor Larson, Mount Rainier, 6-3, 6-1; Jarred Dahl-Freddy Identeg, Mt. Spokane d. Pat Donnelly-Jake Haight, Meadowdale, 7-5, 6-4; Jason Lim-Frazier Chan, Kennedy d. Nick McMurray-John Maccini, Mt. Spokane, 6-1, 6-2; Matt Ellis-Max Franklin, Mercer Island d. Mark Ishimitsu-Trevor Takami, Hazen, 6-1, 6-1; Mark Shkrebtan-Michael Schaeffer, Sammamish d. Josh Jeter-Travis Hanley, Auburn, 6-2, 6-3; Anh-Vu Thai-Peter Brown, Kamiakin d. Anthony Litchfield-Chris Gravesen, Capital, 6-2, 6-1; Elliot Appel-Tam Nguyen, North Thurston d. Brian Sharkey-Matt LaCourse, Shorecrest, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1; Matt Huynh-David Schuster, North Thurston d. Brian Jenkins-Charles Quay, Seattle Prep, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4.
Quarterfinals
Steven Miyauchi-Zach Chen, Newport d. Jarred Dahl-Freddy Identeg, Mt. Spokane, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Matt Ellis-Max Franklin, Mercer Island d. Jason Lim-Frazier Chan, Kennedy, 7-5, 6-4; Mark Shkrebtan-Michael Schaeffer, Sammamish d. Anh-Vu Thai-Peter Brown, Kamiakin, 6-2, 6-0; Matt Huynh-David Schuster, North Thurston d. Elliot Appel-Tam Nguyen, North Thurston, 6-1, 6-0.
Consolation
First round
Trevor Thompson-Trevor Larson, Mount Rainier d. Pat Donnelly-Jake Haight, Meadowdale, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; Mark Ishimitsu-Trevor Takami, Hazen d. Nick McMurray-John Maccini, Mt. Spokane, 6-4, 6-4; Anthony Litchfield-Chris Gravesen, Capital d. Josh Jeter-Travis Hanley, Auburn, 6-2, 7-5; Brian Jenkins-Charles Quay, Seattle Prep d. Brian Sharkey-Matt LaCourse, Shorecrest, 6-2, 6-1.
Quarterfinals
Anh-Vu Thai-Peter Brown, Kamiakin d. Trevor Thompson-Trevor Larson, Mount Rainier, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3; Mark Ishimitsu-Trevor Takami, Hazen d. Elliot Appel-Tam Nguyen, North Thurston, 6-4, 6-1; Anthony Litchfield-Chris Gravesen, Capital d. Jarred Dahl-Freddy Identeg, Mt. Spokane, 6-2, 6-2; Brian Jenkins-Charles Quay, Seattle Prep d. Jason Lim-Frazier Chan, Kennedy, 6-2, 6-3.
3A state tournament
Girls
Tri-City Court Club
Singles
First round
Rachel Storz, Holy Names, d. Jodi Owen, Franklin Pierce, 6-0, 6-0; Ivana Krommelova, Arlington d. Caitlin Bampton, Kamiakin, 6-2, 6-4; Nele Zorn, Kennewick d. Maggie Becker, White River, 6-2, 6-0; Natalie Allen, Holy Names d. Lisa Kromholtz, Peninsula, 6-0, 6-2; Nikole Novikova, Bellevue d. Tammy Do, Evergreen, 6-0, 6-0; Brittney Reed, Kamiakin d. Sandy Dennett, Auburn, 6-0, 6-0; Alena Owen, Shorecrest d. Sandy Schmidt, Bremerton, 7-5, 6-1; Christina Le, Union d. Grace Porter, Bainbridge Island, 6-4, 6-2.
Quarterfinals
Ivana Krommelova, Arlington d. Rachel Storz, Holy Names, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Natalie Allen, Holy Names d. Nele Zorn, Kennewick, 6-3, 6-4; Brittney Reed, Kamiakin d. Nikole Novikova, Bellevue, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0; Christina Le, Union d. Alena Owen, Shorecrest, 6-0, 6-0.
Consolation
First round
Caitlin Bampton, Kamiakin d. Jodi Owen, Franklin Pierce, 6-4, 6-2; Maggie Becker, White River d. Lisa Kromholtz, Peninsula, 6-4, 6-1; Sandy Dennett, Auburn d. Tammy Do, Evergreen, 6-0, 6-0; Grace Porter, Bainbridge Island d. Sandy Schmidt, Bremerton, 6-2, 6-4.
Consolation quarterfinals
Caitlin Bampton, Kamiakin d. Nikole Novikova, Bellevue, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; Maggie Becker, White River d. Alena Owen, Shorecrest, 6-2, 6-3; Rachel Storz, Holy Names d. Sandy Dennett, Auburn, 6-0, 6-1; Grace Porter, Bainbridge Island d. Nele Zorn, Kennewick, 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles
First round
Maddie Guidos-Carly Henley, Highline d. Theresa Maloney-Olivia DeRacat, Holy Names, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3; Molly Mayer-Rebecca Chesnut, Eastmont d. Natalie Simpson-Kyoka Izawa, Shorecrest, 6-0, 7-5; Megan Carter-Helen Tam, Union d. Shaleilah Oswalt-Brittany Gjestrum, West Valley, 7-5, 6-3; Michele Zemplenyi-Chelsea Bailey, Mercer Island d. Carly Holtgraves-Caroline Craft, Auburn Riverside, 6-2, 6-3; Catherine Phelps-Catherine Fitch, Lakeside d. Mariah Siemion-Peyton Prothero, Auburn, 6-0, 6-2; Demie Warner-Alison Welch, Kamiakin d. Jena Russell-Stephanie Hughes, Capital, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Sara Portesan-Liane Fijalka, Meadowdale d. Angie Wnek-Kelly Lank, Hazen, 6-2, 6-1; Christine Wang-Maria Homnick, Columbia River d. Caroline Daly-Hannah Mangham, Lakeside, 6-0, 7-6 (9).
Quarterfinals
Molly Mayer-Rebecca Chesnut, Eastmont d. Maddie Guidos-Carly Henley, Highline, 6-3, 6-2; Michele Zemplenyi-Chelsea Bailey, Mercer Island d. Megan Carter-Helen Tam, Union, 6-0, 6-2; Demie Warner-Alison Welch, Kamiakin d. Catherine Phelps-Catherine Fitch, Lakeside, 6-1, 7-6 (3); Christine Wang-Maria Homnick, Columbia River d. Sara Portesan-Liane Fijalka, Meadowdale, 6-2, 6-0.
Consolation
First round
Theresa Maloney-Olivia DeRacat, Holy Names d. Natalie Simpson-Kyoka Izawa, Shorecrest, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; Shaleilah Oswalt-Brittany Gjestrum, West Valley d. Carly Holtgraves-Caroline Craft, Auburn Riverside, 6-3, 6-1; Jena Russell-Stephanie Hughes, Capital d. Mariah Siemion-Peyton Prothero, Auburn, 6-2, 6-1; Caroline Daly-Hannah Mangham, Lakeside d. Angie Wnek-Kelly Lank, Hazen, 6-0, 6-1.
Quarterfinals
Catherine Phelps-Catherine Fitch, Lakeside d. Theresa Maloney-Olivia DeRacat, Holy Names, 7-5, 6-2; Shaleilah Oswalt-Brittany Gjestrum, West Valley d. Sara Portesan-Liane Fijalka, Meadowdale, 6-2, 6-4; Maddie Guidos-Carly Henley, Highline d. Jena Russell-Stephanie Hughes, Capital, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1; Megan Carter-Helen Tam, Union d. Caroline Daly-Hannah Mangham, Lakeside, 6-3, 6-1.
