Auburn Mountainview sisters Molly and Maggie Henderson will return to the state 3A tennis tournament this weekend in search of a doubles title.

For the senior Molly, 18, and sophomore Maggie, 17, it’s a chance to complete some unfinished business.

“We want to get to at least the same spot that we did last year, and hopefully improve, which means placing at state,” Maggie said.

Last season the pair qualified but did not place at state. It was their first year playing doubles together, although the duo has been playing tennis competitively for more than four years.

“We had wanted to play doubles together for a while,” Maggie said.

Maggie and Molly first picked up the game as elementary students, starting off at the Kent Swim and Tennis Club. Although both still work as lifeguards at the club, they now play at the Boeing Tennis Club in Kent.

“It really helps us out because we have classes at different levels, and everybody is at a different level,” Maggie said of Boeing, where several of the area’s premier tennis players train and compete.

On the court the sisters’ games are as different as their physical appearance, with the taller, redheaded Maggie playing the power role and the slighter, blonde Molly relying on finesse.

“I like to play the net,” Molly said.

“I like to hit more with power,” Maggie added.

“Playing style, Maggie really likes to smack the ball hard,” Mountainview coach Kay Lorrain added. “Molly is a more consistent player, so she’ll set it up, and Maggie will put the ball away. And they can do it the other way, too. Molly likes to play the net, and Maggie can set her up to put it away. Maggie likes to create from the baseline.”

This season the duo made it through the regular season with just two losses, one to Anna Nelson and Lauren Redman of Enumclaw, the other to Lauren Adams and Grace Treleven of Bellarmine Prep. The pair then grabbed the No. 5 seed out of the West Central District into the state tourney.

Although the benefits of being sisters often outweigh the negative aspects on the court, Maggie and Molly said that there are two sides to the coin.

“It helps our communication with each other,” Molly said.

“We’re more comfortable with each other, so we can maybe say things that we wouldn’t say to other people,” Maggie added. “Sometimes it can hurt us, but it also helps us.”

“I think them being sisters is exactly like they said,” Lorrain said. “Sometimes it’s a help and sometimes it’s not. They don’t seem to take it home, though, once they leave the court they’re back to being sisters and living their life. They have a good, healthy relationship.”

For Lorrain, just having the sisters on the team has been a joy.

“They are both quiet leaders. They lead by example, and they really stand out in that manner,” Lorrain said. “They aren’t boisterous. They’re really nice girls. They like everybody. They’re very coachable. They ask appropriate questions, and they’re always looking for ways to improve their game.”

Lorrain is optimistic about the Hendersons’ chances at state this weekend.

“They have improved (from last year),” Lorrain said. “They’re ready to battle over there, they’re not ready to give this up yet.”

Regardless of the outcome at state, Molly and Maggie are well aware of how lucky they are to have been able to compete together the past two seasons.

“It’s sad (that this is the last year),” Molly said. “But we’re also making memories, though.”

“It was real important to them to be able to play together, and I’m glad it worked out,” Lorrain said.

The Hendersons face Sammamish’s Anissa Bryant-Swift and Malia Lum in the first round today at the Vancouver Tennis Center.

ALSO: Sandy Dennett and the doubles team of Peyton Prothero and Karen Wentzke will represent Auburn in the 4A field today at Kamiakin High School and Tri-City Court Club in Kennewick. Dennett’s first-round opponent is Katie Willis of Wenatchee. Prothero and Wentzke face Maria Gonzalez Cuervo and Jasmine Singh from Inglemoor in the opening round.