The Thomas Jefferson Raiders are shaping up to be city champions on the tennis court as they swept the Decatur Gators five matches to none on March 26 at Decatur High School.

The Raiders are now 2-0 after defeating Federal Way 5-0 on March 25, and are at the top of the standings, tied with White River.

Raider freshman Avery Buchan — Head Coach Andrew Buchan’s daughter — won her match over sophomore Claire Kim, 6-0, 6-0.

Callie Moore, playing second singles, defeated her opponent in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. The first set, according to her head coach, was the best she played all year.

“I got a lot of net play, my serves were going in pretty good. With my ground strokes, I was playing it simple and playing the corners,” Moore said.

But in the second set after leading 3-0, she allowed her opponent to get back into it, winning back-to-back games. For Moore, it’s all about serving. If she’s serving well, she is probably playing well.

“I was not serving the best. Both games I lost, I was serving. I told myself I just have to lock in and get it over with,” Moore said

She was able to weather the storm and won three straight games to cruise to victory. The challenge was playing a different type of player.

“It’s harder to play people that aren’t like me or play similar to me. If I have to play her level of play to beat her, I will,” Moore said.

In the doubles department, Thomas Jefferson HS didn’t miss a beat either. The first doubles pairing of Jackie DeRoche and Ellie Tran won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. Their victory clinched the match win over Decatur.

The Raiders’ second doubles team of Emily Belleque and Greta Kalcha downed Favela and Phan, 6-1 and 6-5. While the icing on the cake was the third doubles pair, Milana and Nellie Kislyuk didn’t give a quarter as they beat Adolfo and Bumbury 6-0, 6-0.

This is a young Raiders team led by some top end talent in the tennis world. Buchan is going to be very special in the Raider red and yellow. Moore has grown up with Buchan and the two love to compete together.

“We have played together since I was ten and she was nine. We both have always been competitive, so it’s just really good. It’s fun to play with someone who hits hard and it makes her mad when I hit a little spin or a drop shot every once in a while,” Moore said.

The group as a whole is very competitive, and they get along on and off the court. They are close and have a lot of fun when they are on the court competing in practice or against another school.

“It is a fun group. We are all pretty close. We have all known each other for years. We only have one new player. So I think just because we are already close from the previous years, it makes that better,” Moore said.

Thomas Jefferson’s next match is against Kent-Meridian on March 28 at home.

Callie Moore prepares for a back hand at Decatur.