Four from Newport tennis on to regionals

MEAD – The Newport tennis team have four players advancing to regionals this week following their performances at the District tournament at Mead Friday and Saturday.

Will McDaniel and Jeffrey Pierson emerged from the tournament with Most Valuable Player titles for staying undefeated in league play. They swept their three opponents at the tournament with two set wins.

Preston Davis won third place in boys singles. He won his first match with two 6-0 shutout sets, then lost a three-set match to a Deer Park player that went on to win the tournament. That put Davis in the consolation round, where he beat teammate Luke Wright in two sets, then beat a Medical Lake player in two sets to finish third in the tournament and move on to regionals.

Sophia Stott won third in girls singles. She lost her first match in three sets to a Colville player. That put her in the consolation round, where she beat teammate Izzy Newman in a tough three set match. That put her a match with another Colville player, who she beat in two sets to earn a berth at regionals.

Newport coach Brandon McDaniel says he was proud of the teams.

“Spring finally decided to show up at our district tennis tournament and what a tournament we had!” McDaniel says. “It was a year of firsts with both our boys and girls getting league championships for the first time, the girls winning their second league championship in a row.”

McDaniel says the boys won their first league title.

“Our boys did well enough in the tournament to take home our first ever district championship as well with Will McDaniel and Jeffrey Pierson taking the doubles championship and league MVP title,” Coach McDaniel says. In addition to Davis winning third, Wright won sixth in his first year playing.

On the girls’ side, in addition to Stott qualifying for regionals, Ally and Olivia Sears finished with a fourth place finish in doubles. Coach McDaniel was named boys Coach of the Year. All in all, Newport came through.

“I’d say it is a pretty special year for Newport Tennis,” McDaniel says. “We still have a lot of tennis to play, but I am so thankful for every one of the kids in our program and the success we are having is due to their coachability, commitment and love for this game.”