Throughout the spring, girls were rallying and swinging their way around the hard courts in girls tennis. The TDN sports staff has selected the best that girls tennis had to offer in the area, and there was plenty of talent to choose from.
MVP Maddy Hetland, Mark Morris
Mark Morris senior Maddy Hetland delivers a serve in her singles match against R.A. Long’s Audrey Zdunich on Friday, April 12. Hetland was named the TDN All-Area MVP.
Anthony Dion
Hetland advanced to the state championship and finished one win short of placing.
“Maddy had a great season overall,” Mark Morris coach Gunnar Harlin said. “All I hoped at the beginning of the season was that she (would) qualify for State and try and pick up a win or two which she was able to do.”
The senior Monarch took third at Districts. She was also selected to the first team in the 2A Greater St. Helens League. She finished her final season as a Monarch with a 22-5 record.
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(I’m) very happy with how she played towards the end of the season as well,” Harlin added. “She’s a great competitor. She should be very proud (of) how her high school career ended.”
First-Team Singles Audrey Zdunich, R.A. Long
R.A. Long’s Audrey Zdunich follows through on her swing during a match at Mark Morris on Friday, April 12.
Anthony Dion
Zdunich was named to the second team for the 2A GSHL. She led the league in games won at number one singles with 124.
“Audrey was extremely coachable and a fighter, plain and simple,” R.A. Long coach Rally Wallace said. “This girl was relentless, a player who was never willing to give in. It was so fun watching her progression this last season as she developed into one of the best players around.
Zdunich had her season come to an end in the district tournament with a loss to Hetland.
“Audrey always gave us her best effort, even when she wasn’t at her best. I was very fortunate to coach her,” Wallace added.
First-Team Doubles Rylie Nelsen and Taylor Nelsen, Kelso
Kelso’s Rylie Nelsen serves during her doubles match alongside her twin sister Taylor Nelsen against R.A. Long’s Marissa Stacey and Lyla Khlee at Kelso High School on Friday, March 15.
Dan Rosenfield
The Kelso twins held the No. 1 doubles spot for the Lassies this past season. The sophomores in 2024 were selected to the All-League squad for the 3A GSHL, placed third at the league championship and advanced to the second day of the 3A West-Central District tournament.
“As a pair, their strengths compliment each other really well,” Kelso coach Mary Chennault said. “Rylie and Taylor never give up. They fight hard in every match. They excel in those close matches, winning every tiebreaker they played in the regular season this year and they played a lot of them.”
The sisters finished the season with a 12-5 overall record and a 6-2 mark in league matches.
Kelso’s Taylor Nelsen swings during her doubles match with her twin sister Rylie Nelsen against R.A. Long’s Marissa Stacey and Lyla Khlee at Kelso High School on Friday, March 15.
Dan Rosenfield
“In addition to being fierce competitors, who fight until the last point in every match, I have received the most compliments about Rylie and Taylor’s good sportsmanship on the court from other players, parents and coaches,” Chennault added. “It’s fun to watch them play so hard and do it in a respectful way. I can’t wait to see their continued growth over the next two years.”
Second-Team Singles Leah McReary, Kelso
Kelso’s Leah McReary poses for a photo with her medal after placing 3rd in singles at the 3A GSHL girls tennis championship in May.
Kelso’s No. 2 singles player was a 3A GSHL All-League selection. The sophomore placed third at the league championship and advanced to the bi-district tournament. She finished the year with an 11-5 overall record after missing a match due to injury and a 6-2 mark in the league.
“Throughout the season, her game improved significantly,” Chennault said. “Leah’s serve was a strength at the beginning of the season, but really became a weapon as she gained more experience. Leah loves tennis and practices all year long.”
Second Team Doubles Lyla Khlee and Marissa Stacey, R.A. Long
R.A. Long’s Lyla Khlee serves in her doubles match with Marissa Stacey against Kelso’s duo of Rylie Nelsen and Taylor Nelsen at Kelso High School on Friday, March 15.
Dan Rosenfield
Lyla and Marissa earned a second team selection for the 2A GSHL. They went 12-8 overall with an 8-6 mark in the league.
“Marissa and Lyla were a very dynamic team and competitive, too,” Wallace said. “They could both hit for power on both sides and could also use incredible touch when needed. But what they did best was understanding each other on the court. “
The Lumberjills duo won 136 games, which was the most games won at No. 1 doubles in the league.
R.A. Long’s Marissa Stacey swings her racket in a doubles match with Lyla Khlee against Kelso’s Rylie Nelsen and Taylor Nelsen at Kelso High School on Friday, March 15.
Dan Rosenfield
“They didn’t need to talk much even though they did a great job of communicating,” Wallace added. “They just had a sense of knowing what each other was doing out there. They were a team that I could always count on.”
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