POULSBO — As the Viking girls’ tennis team prepares for its first match in less than a week’s time, there is a sense of optimism flowing from the NK courts.

That optimism — fueled by last year’s dominant .800 winning percentage in league — is well justified.

“Twelve and 3 is a win-loss record to be proud of considering we play every team in the Narrows League,” Head girls’ coach Trish Olsen said.

Last year’s team cruised through its Narrows League opponents not by having a dominant No. 1 player, but rather utilizing a deep line-up that spans the two singles and three doubles positions that make up the varsity team, Olsen added.

“Our strength is our depth,” Olsen said. “We don’t have a superstar but we’re really deep.”

Olsen, in her fourth year as girls’ coach, has also enjoyed another blessing — flawless weather. And each day outside means the girls will be ready when Olympia comes to town for the season opener March 15.

The depth of the team also involves a balance of players who apply their various strengths on court in different ways. From baseline grinders to serve-and-volley attackers, the team employs different strategies in each of five varsity matches.

One player who has enjoyed success on the baseline is junior Megan Grendall, competing in her third year on the varsity team. Last year, she held down the anchor at the No. 2 singles position and qualified for the league tournament.

“Last year, my strategy was to keep it in play,” Grendall said. “Just get it back, get it back, get it back.”

The results were effective — but also time consuming.

“I had a lot of really long matches,” she added.

Grendall said she’d like to make a return to the league tournament. But the junior, who also competes for a select soccer team year round as well as the fall sailing team, is relaxed, rather than uptight, about her chances.

“My goal this year is to just have fun and keep learning,” she said.

Senior Kelly Joines, who has played on the team for four years, varies drastically from Grendall’s style. A serve-and-volleyer who has primarily played doubles in her span as a Viking, said she enjoys tennis most when attacking.

“I love being at the net — everything’s really face paced,” Joines said. “The whole sitting back (at the baseline) thing bothers me. I don’t like waiting for things to happen.”

Joines, who also competed as a Viking swimmer in the fall will likely play the No. 2 doubles spot. She too is optimistic about the overall team’s chances.

“Everyone really wants to have a good team this year,” Joines said. “We’re going to kick butt.”

Like Grendall, her demeanor is relaxed for the upcoming season.

“I’d just like to enjoy my last season here,” Joines said. “Have a good time before I head off to college.”

Junior Emili Kishi, a three-year veteran on the team, also enjoys a different playing style. Kishi said she enjoys an all-court game, looking for the best opportunity — to go aggressively at the net or grind from the baseline — to present itself.

“I consider myself an all-around player,” Kishi said.

Kishi, a volleyball player in the fall, is poised to play doubles with senior Joines this year. She too likes the team’s chances.

“We only lost two seniors and we have a lot of strong juniors,” Kishi said. “We just need to keep practicing hard.”

Game time Monday for the first home match against Olympia is slated for 3:30 p.m. at the NK courts.