Wins against Newport and Skyline put Mercer Island in KingCo driver’s seat

Matt Phelps
Mercer Island Reporter

The Mercer Island girls tennis team completed a sweep of Newport and Skyline to start the season as they crushed the Spartans 7-2.

Mercer Island beat Skyline in impressive fashion with a sweep of the singles match, 6-0.

No. 1 Islander player Chelsea Bailey won her match in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, while No. 2 player Michelle Zemplenyi rolled to a 6-0, 6-3 victory.

Islander Erica Leong had the most decisive victory of the day by giving up just two points in her straight-sets victory.

Mercer Island sophomore Julia Schubach won at No. 4 singles (6-2, 6-2), freshman Kelly Crandall beat her opponent 6-1, 6-4, and senior Sherrie Hsu took three sets (1-6, 6-2, 6-2) to complete the sweep.

Mercer Island also earned a doubles victory with the team of Olivia Kristof and Lauren Smith 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the overall team victory.

The Islanders not only avenged their only loss of last season but put great pressure on Bellevue to remain undefeated going into the teams’ match on April 22. The match could determine the league championship.

The victory comes on the heels of defeating the defending 3A KingCo champion Knights in the season opener.

The Islanders will take on Lakeside on April 11.