Ferndale’s doubles team of Carly Bannerman and Shelby Slaughter needed a pair of comebacks to take third place in doubles play at the Class 3A District 1 Tournament on Wednesday, May 20, in Arlington.
The pair of wins qualified the senior duo for the Class 3A Girls’ Tennis State Tournament.
In the third-place match, the Golden Eagle duo were forced to battle for every point. They took the first set 6-4, but dropped the second by the same score to set up the deciding third set.
“Balls were out by an inch or missed hits, and all of a sudden we were behind 5-3,” Ferndale coach Ed Sweitzer said in a phone interview. “Their backs were against the wall.”
Down 5-3 to the Stanwood duo of Alessia Piazzi and Kylie Stevens, Bannerman and Slaughter rallied to take the final four points and win 7-5. They had won their first match of the day 6-3, 6-6 (7-3) after being down 3-0 in the tiebreak.
“They’ve played tennis together since freshman year, but also soccer and basketball,” Sweitzer said. “They might know each other better than some sisters. They’re competitors. If you want to beat them, you better come to play.”
The state tournament begins Friday, May 29, in Kennewick. This is the first Ferndale doubles team to advance to state and the first representation for the school at the girls’ tennis State Tournament since 2004 or 2005, Sweitzer said.
Class 3A Wesco District Tournament
at Arlington
Doubles
Consolation second round: Carly Bannerman/Shelby Slaughter (Ferndale) def. Anna Sneesby/Marissa Johnson (Glacier Peak) 6-3, 6-6 (7-3)
Third-place match: Carly Bannerman/Shelby Slaughter (Ferndale) def. Alessia Piazzi/Kylie Stevens (Stanwood) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
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