March 26 vs. Quincy

Despite their 0-5 home loss to the visiting Jackrabbits, three of the Tiger boys' five matches went three sets. In first singles, Mitch Morford won his opening set 6-2 before dropping the next two, including a third-set tiebreak, 7-6 (7-5). Avery Morris won his first set 7-5 at second singles before losing 6-4, 6-1. In second doubles, Yael Hurtado and Peter Sanchez claimed a 6-4 second set win in between two dropped sets.

The Tiger girls got singles wins from Jillian Linehan and Lilly Brewer. In first singles, Linehan prevailed over Quincy's Maria Ortiz, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. Brewer took her second singles match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Ephrata's three doubles teams each fell in two sets to the Lady Jacks.

March 28 at Selah

The boys lost 1-4. Avery Morris beat Selah's Iker Flores 6-2, 6-3 at second singles for Ephrata's lone win. Morford dropped 6-2, 6-0 decisions to Yohann Doshi at first singles, and all three doubles teams also lost in straight sets.

Like the boys, the Ephrata girls also fell 1-4. Linehan beat Selah's Madi Moss 6-2, 6-2 at first singles for the Lady Tigers' only win. EHS coach Michael Bosnar said Linehan had learned a drop shot in practice the day before and used it to disrupt Moss throughout the match.

Ephrata's closest match came at second doubles, where Maycee Black and Avery Gault were edged by Selah's Zaiyra Garcia and Juliet Moultray, 6-4, 7-5.

Bosnar said Black had put in extra work before practice after the Quincy match and it showed against Selah.

"Both girls came out ready to compete, communicating well and working together to play to their strengths," Bosnar said. "It was some of the best energy, awareness and aggressive play I've seen from them all season. If they continue building on that, they're going to be a very tough team to beat."

March 31 at Othello

Othello swept both Tiger programs 5-0.

The boys were without Morford, who was out due to illness. Morris moved up to first singles and won this opening set 6-4 against Othello's Max Harris, but dropped the second 6-3. In the third set, Morris clawed back from a 1-4 deficit in but Harris edged him in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-4).

"Avery put up a good fight in Othello, but couldn't quite close the match out," boys coach Greg Becker said.

The girls dropped all five matches in two sets. Linehan fell 6-0, 6-2 to Olivia Harris at first singles. Kate Maedke lost 6-0, 6-0 at second singles. Kara Davis and Lilly Brewer fell 6-0, 6-0 at first doubles, Maycee Black and Avery Gault lost 6-1, 6-3 at second doubles, and Milli Hope and Kaitlyn Wolther dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision at third doubles.

Both programs host Ellensburg today (Thursday, April 2). The Lady Bulldogs are 5-0 and tied with Selah atop the CWAC standings while the Ellensburg boys are 4-1 behind Selah and Othello.

Bosnar said he told his players what to expect: "Show up with your 'A game' and make Ellensburg fight for every point."

On Friday, the two Tiger squads will travel to Yakima to face East Valley. EV's boys are also 4-1, trailing Selah and Othello at the top of the CWAC. But the East Valley girls have a 1-4 conference record, making their match a potentially even battle for the Lady Tigers.