MONROE — The Arlington High School tennis team played tough but lost 5-2 to the Monroe High School Bearcats in an away game on Tuesday, May 1.

The loss to Monroe follows an earlier loss to Snohomish High School on April 27.

“We played Snohomish at home. They are very strong, they are top in the league, so they won 6-1,” said AHS Head Coach Jill Hatfield. Before the Monroe match, Hatfield predicted that the match could swing either way.

“I think it’s going to be close. Monroe has some players that they didn’t have last time we beat them,” Hatfield said.

Those players must have helped the team because the Bearcats ended up taking the win. Arlington senior Kelsey Ghirardo, the Eagles’ number one player, scored during the match with two 6-0 defeats over Monroe’s Belle Chen.

Eagles’ junior Macy Mackey played well and put up quite a fight during the first match, but was ultimately defeated by Monroe’s LeAnna Heit 7-5 and 6-1. Other singles scores include McKenna Prause who won the first singles match against Monroe’s Chloe Erikson with a score of 3-6 but lost the next two with scores of 6-3 and 6-2. Karissa Robinson was defeated by Janae Groeneweg of Monroe with scores of 6-3 and 6-3.

In doubles play, Maya Manzano and Amber Olander pulled out a win over Monroe’s Crystal Pina and Miriah Clem with scores of 6-4, 2-6 and 6-1. Other doubles scores include Katrina Roys and Sara Deeter’s loss to Bearcats’ Melissa Reyling and Jamie Hawkins in a 6-1, 6-1 defeat. Kyle Kilmer and Bianca Carlson played tough but lost to Monroe’s Shae Love and Sarah Lunstrum with a score of 6-1 and 6-3.

Despite the close match, Arlington’s record still shines above that of Monroe. The Eagles stand with a record of 3-10 league and 4-10 overall, while Monroe’s record sits at 1-11 league and 3-11 overall.

The Eagles now head to the 4A North Division Tournament on May 9 at 1 p.m. and May 10 at 3 p.m. at Arlington High School.