Coming into this season Auburn tennis coach Crystal Wisness wasn’t sure what to expect from her squad.

With a jump up to the South Puget Sound League 4A North from the 3A division – where the team finished in first-place last season – coupled with the loss of a handful of seniors, Wiseness said this season was up in the air.

So far, however, the Trojans have responded by posting an 11-3 team mark, fueled by No. 1 singles player Sandy Dennett’s 11-0 record.

“I’m surprised,” Wisness said. “I expected a challenge, not so much from my girls, but from the league. I knew the league was going to be really strong. I’ve got some good players, but I thought we’d be in the middle of the pack. It’s a very pleasant surprise, if not nervewracking.

“I thought I’d be able to approach matches this year a little more laid back, like it is what it is” she continued. “But I find myself doing a lot of pacing. But it’s exciting.”

For Dennett this year has also been a bit of surprise.

According to the Auburn junior, she first took up tennis a mere 2 1/2 years ago.

“Tennis has been in my mom’s family for a really long time,” she said. “She plays, her sisters play, and my grandpa still plays. I had played maybe 10 times and decided to take it up. I used to do figure skating and wasn’t too good at that, so I decided on tennis.”

According to Dennett, who played in the state tourney last season, losing two matches and winning one, she also wasn’t sure how successful she and the team would be.

“I put a lot of time in this summer,” she said. “But I was really nervous about this season before we came in. The club where I play (Bally’s in Puyallup) closed during the winter. So I was really nervous and didn’t think I would do good. But after the first time we played Kentwood, I got really pumped up for the rest of the season.”

Wisness said that she’s noticed a marked improvement in Dennett’s game this year, especially in terms of power.

“Sandy started off as a freshman with the program,” she said. “She’s just a slight thing, she’s not big, but she is hitting so much harder this year. I’ve hit against her a couple times, and she’s playing a different game this year. She’s really very persistent and this year has just come to play.”

“My goal is really to get through the West Central District,” Dennett said. “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be crazy loaded. Some of the girls are so good. First I want to get through that and make it to state again. I don’t know what will happen after there.”

In addition to Dennett, the Trojans also boast a slew of talent this year, including the undefeated doubles team of Peyton Prothero and Mariah Siemion who are 7-0 in the No. 1 doubles slot.

“They played together last year and made it to state,” Wisness said. “This year we started with Payton playing singles, which she was willing to play. But her and Mariah are like peanut butter and jelly. They need to play together they are a great combination.”

“I don’t understand how Mariah gets to half the balls she gets to,” Wisness continued. “People will start clapping because they think the point is over, and she’ll come sliding across the court. She’s going to have a permanent scar I think from her slides. She just puts it all out there, and those two are just really fun to watch.”

Also making her mark for the Trojans is Sandi Mihaylova, who is sliding into the No. 2 singles spot as the season progresses.

“Right now I’ve got Sandy Mehalova playing,” Wisness said. “She’s played three matches and won each one of them. Every morning she comes into my psychology class and tells me she’s ready to play more singles, so she’s very excited about it. She is a hard worker with high energy.”

For both Dennett and Wisness, the key this year has been the team play.

“Our team is doing really good,” Dennett said. “I think at the beginning of the season we didn’t get to practice a lot because of all the rain. Plus, we lost four or five seniors that were on varsity last year. So we had a lot of JV girls that moved up. So at first it was a matter of just practicing together. And once we started practicing together it all clicked. Plus the main reason is we have a fantastic coach who is doing a great job.”

“I just think we have a stronger program than I gave it credit for,” Wiseness said. “We’ve got girls who work so hard and have a ton of heart. They play hard and want to win. It’s been fun.”