By Matt Phelps

Mercer Island Reporter

The biggest surprise Thursday during the boys tennis match at Juanita High School was not Mercer Island’s 9-0 victory. It was not the sunny skies that sometimes play hide-and-go-seek in September. The biggest surprise was that the match was the first in-league victory of the season.

“I didn’t know this was the first,” said Islander No. 1 singles player Matt Ellis. “It doesn’t matter. We are ready no matter who it is. We are at full throttle.”

With the realignment of the league many people were confused. But the confusion didn’t impact the play on the court as the Islanders didn’t drop a single set.

Ellis was in fifth gear at the top of the singles lineup, earning a 6-1, 6-2 win.

“I am never rusty with how much I play,” said Ellis. “I played tournaments during the summer.”

Ellis’ victory set an important tone for the team with Max Franklin out of the lineup. Mercer Island freshman Jordan Smith played No. 2 singles in Franklin’s place, winning 6-1, 6-0.

“This was pretty exciting,” said Smith. “I want to become more consistent and solid in all my matches.”

Franklin is expected back for the team’s next match.

“It bothers me that he isn’t getting practice,” said Islander head coach Joyce Hedlund. “Their toughest matches were their challenge matches during the preseason. But it is good to get to play someone different.”

Islander Eddie Jiranek earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory thursday and remarked to his coach that “it’s nice to get a win,” referring to a tough preseason of challenge matches.

Glen Kelton won at No. 3 singles (6-0, 6-1) and Matt Sedlacek won the No. 5 match (6-3, 6-2) both for the Islanders. Colin Ramsey posted the sixth singles win for Mercer Island with a 6-2, 6-0 win.

The Islanders swept the doubles action with wins by Matt Stofsky and Andrew Smith (7-5, 6-3), Jered Thomas and Erik Snyder (6-0, 6-3) and Jon Lai and David Peck (6-1, 6-1).