For the first time in three years, the Douglas girls' tennis team will be making plans as a team for the postseason.
The Tigers picked up their fifth league win of the season, and sixth overall, with a 17-1 victory over North Valleys in Minden Tuesday, clinching at least a fourth-place spot in the upcoming Northern 4A Regional team tennis playoffs.
Douglas still has two of the Sierra League's top teams, Reno and Carson, left on its slate with both matches coming next week, but only lost to playoff-bound South Tahoe previously this season.
The Lady Tigers were nothing short of dominant Tuesday afternoon, sweeping the singles bracket and giving up only one set in doubles despite extremely windy conditions at the Douglas High courts.
Douglas picked up a 17-1 win last week against Damonte Ranch in similarly poor weather conditions.
Samantha Barns, Amanda Lugone and Jenna Dykes picked up two victories each to lead the Tigers while Morgan Barone, Sophie Lyles and Patty Salazar each added one.
The Tigers' two top doubles teams of Sarah Barnhill-Lauren Seymour and Kristy Jilk-Cesarina Ceglia each picked up a 6-0 win and the duo of Madison VanderByl and Jackie Sunderland won two 6-1 sets together.
Ceglia and Jessica Adam picked up Douglas' final point of the afternoon with a 6-2 win.
Douglas traveled to Fallon Thursday for a non-league match. The Tigers are 3-0 on the road this season.
BOYS
Robert Shawhan continued his impressive sophomore season, picking up three wins to improve to 18-1 on the year as Douglas beat North Valleys 12-6 in north Reno Tuesday.
Matt McLaughlin picked up Douglas' only other singles win on the afternoon as the Tigers' strong doubles squads again carried the afternoon.
The teams of Trevor Mitchell-Josh Vega and Spike Neri-Andrew Soloman went 3-0 on the afternoon and John McLaughlin and Kevin Sacherman went 2-1 for the near-sweep against the Panthers.
Mitchell and Vega are 14-2 on the year and are looking at a strong seeding in the upcoming regional tournament, as are Neri and Soloman, who sport a 12-5 record on the year.
The boys are 5-1 in league play on the year and have clinched a team playoff spot.
-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.
