IHS Tennis team finishes strong at district

Image: Italy’s Melissa Smithey and Drenda Burk, get set to play tennis — Against Whitney, Melissa Smithey and her doubles partner, Drenda Burk, await the result of the traditional racket spin to determine which team serves first during the JV district tennis meet held at Alvarado High School.

Italy’s Melissa Smithey and Drenda Burk, get set to play tennis — Against Whitney, Melissa Smithey and her doubles partner, Drenda Burk, await the result of the traditional racket spin to determine which team serves first during the JV district tennis meet held at Alvarado High School. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sitting in Alvarado — Sierra Harris watches her tennis teammates warming up.

Sitting in Alvarado — Sierra Harris watches her tennis teammates warming up. (Barry Byers)

Image: She has that look — Melissa Smithey has the look of a winner.

She has that look — Melissa Smithey has the look of a winner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Warming up — Sierra Harris takes a few practice serves.

Warming up — Sierra Harris takes a few practice serves. (Barry Byers)

Image: Elevated her game — Lisa Olschewsky uses her new and improved serve to win her opening set 6-4.

Elevated her game — Lisa Olschewsky uses her new and improved serve to win her opening set 6-4. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rocket serve — Lisa Olschewsky gives her all in Alvarado.

Rocket serve — Lisa Olschewsky gives her all in Alvarado. (Barry Byers)

Image: Talking tennis — Cody Medrano, Kevin Roldan and Zain Byers pass the time between matches.

Talking tennis — Cody Medrano, Kevin Roldan and Zain Byers pass the time between matches. (Barry Byers)

Image: Determination — Lisa Olschewsky wins the first set out of three.

Determination — Lisa Olschewsky wins the first set out of three. (Barry Byers)

Image: Natural talent — Calm and calculating, Cruz Enriquez had his first round opponent rattled on day two of the varsity boys singles matches.

Natural talent — Calm and calculating, Cruz Enriquez had his first round opponent rattled on day two of the varsity boys singles matches. (Barry Byers)

Image: Just his racket — Into the swing of things, Cruz Enriquez keeps his challengers busy.

Just his racket — Into the swing of things, Cruz Enriquez keeps his challengers busy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drenda on the attack — Moving in for the point is Italy’s Drenda Burk.

Drenda on the attack — Moving in for the point is Italy’s Drenda Burk. (Barry Byers)

Image: Smithey’s got game — Showing her net skills is Melissa Smithey.

Smithey’s got game — Showing her net skills is Melissa Smithey. (Barry Byers)

Image: Uncaged — Kevin Roldan represents a new era in Italy, Tennis.

Uncaged — Kevin Roldan represents a new era in Italy, Tennis. (Barry Byers)

Image: Aiming for glory — Utilizing the forehand shot is, court sniper, Zain Byers.

Aiming for glory — Utilizing the forehand shot is, court sniper, Zain Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tennis is fun — JV doubles partners, Kevin Roldan and Zain Byers, are just enjoying the moment.

Tennis is fun — JV doubles partners, Kevin Roldan and Zain Byers, are just enjoying the moment. (Barry Byers)

Image: Brutal slam — Italy’s Kevin Roldan patrols the net during a doubles match against Rio Vista.

Brutal slam — Italy’s Kevin Roldan patrols the net during a doubles match against Rio Vista. (Barry Byers)

Image: He’s a smash! — Zain Byers emerges from the shadows to show his return skills.

He’s a smash! — Zain Byers emerges from the shadows to show his return skills. (Barry Byers)

Image: Off the court — Lisa Olschewsky relaxes after her match.

Off the court — Lisa Olschewsky relaxes after her match. (Barry Byers)

Image: Courage — Melissa Smithey uses her tennis racket for support after taking ill during a match. After a quick break, Smithey recovered enough to secure 3rd place in district with her doubles partner, Drenda Burk.

Courage — Melissa Smithey uses her tennis racket for support after taking ill during a match. After a quick break, Smithey recovered enough to secure 3rd place in district with her doubles partner, Drenda Burk. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cruz crushes it — Cruz Enriquez shows his overhead slam skills.

Cruz crushes it — Cruz Enriquez shows his overhead slam skills. (Barry Byers)

Image: District Champion — Sophomore, Sierra Harris displays the athletic ability that helped her claim the 2011 District 15 AA Girls Singles Championship.

District Champion — Sophomore, Sierra Harris displays the athletic ability that helped her claim the 2011 District 15 AA Girls Singles Championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sierra and Cruz — Sierra Harris and Cruz Enriquez display their tennis medals. Harris won the 15 AA JV Girls Singles District Championship and Enriquez qualified for Regionals as the 15 AA Boys Singles Alternate.

Sierra and Cruz — Sierra Harris and Cruz Enriquez display their tennis medals. Harris won the 15 AA JV Girls Singles District Championship and Enriquez qualified for Regionals as the 15 AA Boys Singles Alternate. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ultimate warriors — Melissa Smithey returned to the court despite taking ill in the second match and doubles teammate, Drenda Burk, struggled through a sore right elbow as the pair won 9 out of their last 11 game points to claim 3rd place during the district tennis meet in Alvarado.

Ultimate warriors — Melissa Smithey returned to the court despite taking ill in the second match and doubles teammate, Drenda Burk, struggled through a sore right elbow as the pair won 9 out of their last 11 game points to claim 3rd place during the district tennis meet in Alvarado. (Barry Byers)

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