Nick Allen was ready for the next step. Ready to serve up more success on the tennis courts for Auburn Mountainview High School.

And ready to do it alone. In singles.

“Doubles is great fun. But singles is more my specialty,” Allen said.

So in the summer of 2007, Allen worked on altering a significant aspect of his game.

He served up a different serve.

“I told him he had to make a major adjustment in his serve. And that’s difficult to make,” Lions coach Dustin Hedger said. “You have to give up some short-term success for long-term gain.”

Allen was sold on Hedger’s suggestion in large part because Allen had been having similar thoughts.

“Once you get it done, you’re going to be happy you did it,” Allen said. “It took me about six months (to get comfortable with it). I have an abbreviated motion, and I toss (the ball) out in front.”

Happy he did it? Oh yeah. Allen certainly was happy with going 11-0 during the South Puget Sound League 3A regular season last fall. Happy he made it to the finals of the league tournament, although Sumner’s Drew Monroe ultimately prevailed in three sets. Happy he made it to the West Central-Southwest District tournament.

About the only downer on his docket was coming within one match of making it to state and falling short in a close call at district, 6-4, 6-4 to Kennedy’s Connor Thorp.

“I was a little disappointed I didn’t make it to state. But overall, it was a great year,” Allen said.

Naturally, getting to state is high on Allen’s list of things to do during this, his final year as a Lion. And, as was the case when he revamped his serve, both Allen and Hedger knew what had to be done to pave that path to the tournament that matters most.

“I tell the guys how well they do is about 1 percent what I do with them during the time we have together during the season and 99 percent of what they do during the off season,” Hedger said.

It was an easy sale to Allen.

“I took a lot of lessons and played a lot of tennis,” he said. “I have better groundstrokes, better volleys, and I’m more mentally tough.

Sumner’s Monroe, his nemesis from last year, has graduated. But among the three new schools in the SPSL 3A this season is Peninsula. And that happens to be the home of talented junior Lance Wilhelm, who cruised to the district singles title last spring, and followed that with a runner-up finish at state.

Allen will get his first-ever shot at Wilhelm on Oct. 6 at Peninsula.

“That’s the one I’m looking forward to,” Allen said, unable to keep a grin in check.

Getting the better of someone such as Wilhelm is a tall order, and Allen knows it. But Allen, who has grown from 5-foot-10 as a freshman to 6-1 as a senior, figures that’s exactly the kind of opponent he needs to see across the net, regardless of outcome.

“I just have to keep playing matches, being in a big position and coming up with the right shot at the right time,” he said. “I have to learn to stay aggressive.”

For Nick Allen, that’s another way to serve up more success.

Raiders eyeing KR in SPSL North

They put a perfect record into the books last season, and seem confident they can do it again.

That part about the Kentridge High boys tennis team remains to be seen. But this part seems clear: The road to the South Puget Sound League North Division title definitely runs through KR’s courts.

“We’re close, but they’re better than us. We’re young,” said Jefferson coach Andrew Buchan, whose team is mentioned most frequently as the one which can give the Chargers a run for it. “Until someone can play them close at 3-2, no one is in the same breath at Kentridge.”

Added Kentwood coach Ingrid Bakke, “On tennis skill alone, it’s Kentridge. But Andrew (Buchan) does an amazing job of getting his kids fired up. When kids are playing with heart and no fear, it’s going to be a battle.”

Coming off a 12-0 campaign in the fall, then qualifying five players for the Class 4A state tournament in the spring, the Chargers still have enough tools in their box to make a run at back-to-back division crowns. Jefferson no doubt will have something to say about it. Ditto for Kentwood. And TJ gets a shot at Kentridge today, following Monday’s season openers. (The Raiders had a bye on Monday.)

“Jefferson is the competition,” said Kentridge’s Vineeth Omkaram, a junior who teamed with classmate Paul Yi to earn a state berth in doubles last May. “We’re just going step by step.”

TJ returns virtually its entire roster, topped by district doubles veterans Joe Lee and Branden Muraki, both juniors. Sophomore Makoa Rosa also is back with district experience, and is joined by freshman brother Kainoa Rosa.

The North takes on a new “old look” this fall with the return of Auburn and Auburn Riverside to the 4A ranks.

The last time the perennially powerful Ravens swung their rackets on North Division courts in 2005, they racked up a 13-0 record to claim the crown. During their two years in SPSL 3A, they won the league title in 2006, and were second behind Sumner in 2007.

The Ravens graduated eight players, five of them with district experience. Many of those taking their spots might be new to varsity, but coach Bruce Diehl says they’ve all played plenty of tennis.

“All the kids did summer work, and we’re just a good, solid team,” Diehl said. We may not be the best team in the league, but we’ll be the fittest team in the league. I want to be a spoiler.”

Auburn has a state-caliber boys doubles combination atop its ladder. Seniors Josh Jeter and Travis Hanley snagged the seventh and final state spot out of the district tournament last year, that after not pairing up until midseason. The rest of the Trojans’ roster is predominantly juniors.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Grade/name School

Jr. Max Manthou Kentwood

Notable: He’s the two-time defending state singles champion. Any questions?

Jr. Matt Overland Kentridge

Notable: Hard, accurate hitter has emerged as the North’s best player – after Max.

Jr. Joe Lee Jefferson

Notable: Went 4-1 in singles, teamed with Branden Muraki to make district in doubles.

Sr. Travis Hanley Auburn

Sr. Josh Jeter Auburn

Notable: Teamed up at midseason, then wound up going all the way to the state tournament.

Sr. Nick Allen Aub. Mtnvw.

Notable: Undefeated during the regular season, and a league tournament finalist.

Sr. Lance Wilhelm Peninsula

Notable: Defending district champion, state singles runner-up.