KINGSTON — Two of Kingston High School’s top tennis players will team up for the 2A Girls State Tennis Doubles Championships.

Kingston’s Becca McNurney and Kati Schwabe face Foster’s Moa Aqruiza and Eunica Serafica May 24 in the first round of the championships at the Nordstrom Tennis Center.

The Kingston team earned a State berth after winning the West Central District III Tournament championship match against Washington’s Maddie Roberts and Marijo Manaois. The District tournament was May 17-18.

McNurney and Schwabe, both seniors, will have a better chance at State as a doubles team, Kingston head coach Terry Grimm said. Their both good athletes, but having them as a doubles team will help keep their endurance up, she said.

“They’re in top form right now; ready to go,” Grimm said.

McNurney and Schwabe switched between singles and doubles through the regular season. As a doubles team they were undefeated (5-0).

Though Kingston’s top doubles team didn’t have much challenge in the Olympic League, Grimm said they will at State.

The most difficult team McNurney and Schwabe faced so far were Washington’s Roberts and Manaois at Districts, Grimm said. The duo won 6-2, 6-2 over Roberts and Manaois for the championship.

At Districts the Kingston team earned a first-round bye and preceded to win three in a row, including the championship match.

“That’s what we’re hoping for at State,” Grimm said.

The winner of the Kingston/ Foster State match will play either Yakima’s Danielle Tanasse and Makenzie Kinloch, or Hockinson’s Tiara Atchley and Jaymie Towne.

The 2A Girls State Tennis Doubles Championships wraps up May 25.

Westendorp takes 6th at Districts, advances to State

KINGSTON — Nicole Westendorp has continued to surprise Kingston head coach Terry Grimm up to this point.

Though Westendorp, an exchange student from the Netherlands, starts matches out slowly, she continues to find a way to win.

“She’s a smart player,” Grimm said. “She knows where to put the ball and how to angle shots.”

Westendorp earned a State berth after finishing sixth in the District tournament. She won three matches, and lost two.

Westendorp tends to earn many of her points by returning the ball close to the net. She didn’t have much of a net game at the beginning of the season, Grimm said. That’s changed.

“She’s looking good,” Grimm said. “She’s very consistent.”

Westendorp begins her State run May 24 against Lindbergh’s Lizel Villanueva. Villanueva is not unknown to the Kingston exchange student.

In the second round of the District tournament, Villanueva defeated Westendorp 6-0, 6-0; bumping Westendorp out of the running for a shot at the District championship. Villanueva won the District championship.

The Lindbergh player was named the Seamount Tennis Athlete of the Year during the regular season.

WCD III tournament May 17-18

Singles — Round 1: N.Westendorp (KHS) d. S.Yi (Wash) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3; Round 2: L.Villanueva (Lind) 6-0, 6-0; Round 3: N.Westendorp (KHS) d. C.Pee (PA) 4-6, 6-3, 10-4; Round 4: N.Westendorp (KHS) d. K.Reyes (PA) 6-4, 6-1; Round 5: M.Wilsie (Franklin Pierce) d. N.Westendorp (KHS) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Doubles — Round 2: K.Schwabe/B.McNurney (KHS) d. E.Hanks/J.Ortiz (Wash) 6-1, 6-3; Round 3: K.Schwabe/B.McNurney (KHS) d. A.Prorok/H.Gauthan (Seq) 6-2, 6-2; Round 4 (championship): K.Schwabe/B.McNurney (KHS) d. M.Roberts/M.Manaois (Wash) 6-2, 6-2.