This past spring, the Mercer Island Islanders tennis team’s doubles squad of Christian Anderson and Chris Elliot nearly attained the pinnacle in the world of high school tennis.

Anderson/Elliot advanced to the Class 3A doubles finals, but lost 2-1 (6-3, 2-6, 7-5) in heartbreaking fashion against Garfield’s Oscar Burney and Brad Huffaker on May 28 in the Tri-Cities. The boys tennis season conducts its regular season, KingCo and district tournaments in the fall and the state tournament in the spring. Mercer Island head coach Ryan Pang said the tandem of Anderson/Elliot captured the KingCo title and district championship but suffered the unfortunate setback in the 3A tournament finale. Burney, who graduated from Garfield this past June, was one of the best players in the state last season.

“They (Anderson/Elliot) played the same team in the finals of both districts and state. The difference (at state) was Oscar Burney and his huge serve. It is way easier to get that serve in and hit it effectively when you are indoors versus outdoors. We played them at districts outside it was easier for us to handle the serve. Indoors at the finals at state he was just hitting some very big serves and it was difficult for us.”

Anderson said last year’s defeat in the finale gave him and Elliot pure motivation to succeed if the opportunity arises again this season.

“I just thought last year it was a great experience. It was tough. We lost in the finals but I think we learned a lot from that match,” Anderson said.

Elliot said he had attended the state tournament as a spectator in years past but last spring was the first time he had the chance to compete in the tourney.

“I had witnessed it so many times so it was really cool to actually play in a final and great to play against someone (Burney) who plays at that high of a level. It was just a great match,” Elliot said.

The duo is determined to bring home the state trophy this coming season.

“I’m putting everything into this. Hopefully we can pull out the win,” Anderson said. “I think me and Chris really feed off each others energy. We’re a great team and we’re always positive.”

Elliot echoed his teammate’s sentiment.

“It would be awesome to win state and just bring it home for the MI (Mercer Island) team. It would be awesome,” Elliot said. “Even when we are down a set, we always pump each other up and keep each other focused out there. We really just try to win and focus on every point.”

The Islanders boys tennis team kicks off its regular season with a match against the Newport Knights on Sept. 7 in Factoria.