In an all-Mercer Island girls tennis doubles final, Caroline Hamilton and Sammy Sweet upset teammates Gabby and Lydia Venditti’s bid for a third-straight district title, winning 7-6(5), 7-6(7) to take the 3A Sea-King doubles crown Wednesday, May 20 at Lower Woodland tennis courts.

The loss marked a first for the Vendittis, who are gunning for a third-consecutive 3A state doubles title this year, in their prep careers as a doubles tandem. Placing in the top six, both teams advanced to next weekend’s state tournament.

In singles action, Grace Bethards placed fourth and Sarah Sweet placed fifth to move on. Bethards fell in the third-place match to Garfield’s Alexia Fite 4-6, 2-6, while Sweet won her fifth-place match against Lakeside’s Genevieve Payzer 6-0, 6-1. Holy Names’ Catherine Allen won the 3A girls singles title over Lakeside’s Viv Daniel 6-2, 7-5.

For the boys, Mercer Island’s Brian Hou placed fourth in singles competition to advance to the state tournament. Hou fell in three sets to Bellevue’s Theodore McDonald in the third-place match, taking the opening set 6-2 before dropping the next two 3-6, 6(6)-7. Garfield’s Oscar Burney won the 3A boys singles title over Bellevue’s Zack Fleischman 6-2, 6-1.

The Islander boys advanced two doubles teams, with Ben Elliott and Charlie Williams placing second and Cameron Coe and Peter Williams placing third. Bellevue’s Hunter Egger and Daniel Foster won the doubles title over Elliott and Williams 6-3, 6-3.

The 3A state tennis championship tournament will take place May 29-30 at Tri City Court Club and Kamiakin High School in Kennewick.

Islanders Charlie Williams (left) and Ben Elliott finished second in the 3A district boys tennis doubles bracket Wednesday, May 20 at Lower Woodland tennis courts (Joe Livarchik/Mercer Island Reporter).