Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Monday, Oct. 19, 2009

PREP TENNIS: Ferndale prepared for postseason tournaments

Nothing the Ferndale boys' tennis team will see over the next two weeks should be much more difficult than what they've have already experienced during the regular season.

"The Bellingham schools have all been really tough all year long," Ferndale coach Rudy Vendiola said in a phone interview. "It was a good experience to play with them this season and learn what it takes to play at that top level. Now we're looking forward from this point and seeing what we can do."

Ferndale will send three singles players and three doubles tandems to the Class 3A Northwest Conference Tournament, which is scheduled to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 20-21, at Mount Vernon High School. The top three players in each draw will advance to next week's 3A Northwest District Tournament, which also will be held at Mount Vernon.

And that's where Vendiola hopes the experience of playing some of the top Class 2A players and teams during the conference season will pay off, as the 3A district champion and runner up in each draw will receive berths to the state tournament in May.

"Meadowdale is always tough," Vendiola said. "Last year they took both their doubles teams to state. I try to compare our team to that team, and I think we can match up good with them. Historically, there are some very tough teams that come from the Wesco, so it will be a great challenge for us."

The Golden Eagles have two of the top three seeds in the singles draw of the NWC tournament, as Tanner Hanson received the top seed and awaits the winner of a play-in match between Sedro-Woolley's Tim McDougle and Mike Garcia in the first round of the double-elimination bracket. Hanson started the season at No. 2 singles for the Golden Eagles, but moved to No. 1 for the second half of the year and enters with a 7-6 record.

"He had some big wins in the second half of the season over Sedro-Woolley's No. 1 and Mount Vernon's No. 1," Vendiola said. "On paper, he's been one of the most consistent players over the season this year."

On the other side of the bracket is teammate Ryan Carlson, who was seeded third with his 5-8 record and will face Mount Vernon's Jeff Weber in the first round.

"Ryan's got a real solid game," Vendiola said. "He's a grinder from the baseline and really gets after the ball."

Ferndale's Konner Erdman also will face No. 2 seed Brian Leer from Mount Vernon in the first round of the singles draw.

Though they only played two matches together - getting a split - Ferndale's Tully Sands and Alex Forhan received the No. 2 seed in the NWC doubles draw.

"We tried them out at the end of the season and liked what we saw," Vendiola said. "They looked strong in practice (Monday), working to make sure they are on the same page."

Ferndale's Erik Arntsen and Tyler Erickson will face Mount Vernon's Jared Knapp and Brennan Emory in the first round, while Fenton Rybka and Tom Horak must face Mount Vernon's Jeff Huschka and Jordan Erickson in a play-in match to move on to face doubles top seeds Brendan McGoffin and Calvin Rutherford from Sedro-Woolley.

TODAY'S PLAYOFF TENNIS

CLASS 2A NORTHWEST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT

When: 10 a.m.

Rounds: Play-in matches, plus first two rounds

Site: Sehome High School and Western Washington University

CLASS 3A NORTHWEST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

When: 10 a.m.

Rounds: Play-in matches, plus first two rounds

Site: Mount Vernon High School