Colony claims mixed doubles region title

PALMER — The Region III Tennis Championships have been at Colony High School this week in a final determination of which Valley teams will qualify for the state tournament in two weeks. On Tuesday, Colony’s mixed doubles pairing of Andrew Svoboda and Chloe Wright defeated Anna Abalos and Riley Ames from Wasilla for the mixed doubles Region III title.

“It feels great,” said Wright.

Svoboda and Wright won in straight sets (6-0, 6-0). Wright attacked the net on serve volleys and attacked Wasilla up the middle of the court. The Region III tournament is the first time Valley tennis players have played in regular competitive matches with traditional scoring. During the COVID-19 pandemic altered season, teams played ladder tournaments or round robin matches with players from different schools rather than traditional singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches.

“I think it means a lot,” said Svoboda. “It’s been kind of a weird year.”

Svoboda and Wright continued to wear their warmup jackets through much of the first set and took little time earning their berth to the state tournament. Only one representative from each of the competing regions in men’s and women’s singles, mens, women’s and mixed doubles will compete in the state tournament. Colony High School tennis head coach Susan Brunner said that despite the uncertainty around education for much of the summer, tennis has never been more popular.

“When we came out here at the end of July the kids were stir crazy from being quarantined for so long and they were looking for activities and this is the biggest team we’ve had in the last five years,” said Brunner. “I think it was kids wanted to be outside and wanted to be active and tennis was a great avenue for that.”

Wasilla had difficulty handling the powerful overhand serve of Svoboda. Delivered with considerable topspin changing the trajectory of the ball as it travels, Svoboda’s serve helped he and Wright earn the win over Abalos and Ames. Svoboda and Wright communicated during active play about where each player would react, with Wright assertive at the net and Svoboda hustling to return shots from near the edge of the court.

“I think we just tried to a just do a little more strategy like both crashing the net both trying to get as many volley points as we could,” said Svoboda.

Svoboda and Wright have only been paired together as a mixed doubles tandem for a short time. Wright played women’s singles for her first three years in high school.

“One of our boys was injured and so we switched Andrew from boys doubles to mixed doubles and paired him with Chloe and they went to work out there,” said Brunner.

The Region III Tennis Championship continued at Colony High School on Thursday.