Casias leads Bremerton High School girls tennis team into Olympic League play

Bre Casias might be the smallest player on Bremerton High School’s roster, but she has the team’s biggest groundstroke.

Hovering around the 5-foot mark, Casias enters the season as the Lady Knights’ No. 1 singles player. She went undefeated during the regular season in 2009 and is looking to advance to the district championships this year as a singles player.

“I’m going for a title,” she said.

That quest begins April 7, when Bremerton opens the regular season at home against Port Angeles High School.

Casias is a left-hander and will work on her serve between now and the opener. She said she needs more power on her first serve and more speed and movement on her second.

Her groundstrokes, however, are solid. She is comfortable with her backhand and forehand and can play on the baseline as well as at the net.

“The serve, that’s the most important part of the game,” Casias said.

For Casias to keep her regular-season record perfect, she may have to defeat one of two Klahowya hitters who advanced to the state championships last year.

Those players are sophomore Tracy Landram, who placed second, and senior Maggie Becker, who placed fourth.

Bremerton hosts Klahowya April 14.

“She’s a hard worker,” said second-year coach Casey Linberg. “She’s quietly competitive.”

In addition to Casias, the Lady Knights return singles players Megan Arriola and Callie Wilson. Lindberg expects Arriola to play No. 2 singles and Wilson No. 3.

With 24 players, Bremerton doesn’t have the depth it had last season.

Lindberg has yet to finalize his doubles teams, but he said returning players Kim De Los Reyes, Jessica Martindale, Linda Luu, Davina Huntwork and Katie Rahm are vying for positions.

Most of the newcomers will play junior varsity.

“Some of them come out wanting to compete, and others come out for the fun of it,” Lindberg said. “We have a combination of both.”

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