Hermiston sophomores Aspyn Inners, left, and Cate Doherty were named to the 2024 Mid-Columbia Conference all-conference second team for tennis.

VACOUVER, Wash. — Aspyn Inners and Cate Doherty are the first Hermiston tennis players to reach the 3A state tennis tournament since the Bulldogs joined the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association in 2018, and the sophomores are ready to take on the competition.

“They are stoked,” Hermiston coach Jason Sivey said. “They were mad last year when they got fourth. This year, they have been pretty determined to win. It’s difficult to get there. They are just sophomores and they still have room to grow. They have the desire to be the best.”

The 3A tournament begins at 8 a.m. Friday, May 24, at the Vancouver Tennis Center in Vancouver, Washington. The Hermiston duo is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., where it will open against Addison Smith and Maja Gowans of Seattle Prep.

Inners and Doherty have played together all season, except for a couple of matches. They won the Mid-Columbia Conference 3A doubles titles, then finished second at the District 8 tournament after falling to Josie Kellogg and Lexi Mattox of Mead.

Girls 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament

Pendleton senior Taybree Walker will make her first state appearance Thursday, and will play one of the opening matches at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

“She has put in the work the last three years,” Bucks coach Stu Clem said. “It’s nice to see someone get the opportunity to go to state who has put in the work.”

Walker will take on Sami Shivakumar of Valley Catholic at 4 p.m. in her first match. Shivakumar, a sophomore, was a 4A District 1 first-team all-conference selection. She qualified for state as a freshman, going 1-2.

Walker qualified for state after placing fourth at the Special District 5 district tournament last week. She lost the third-place match to Baker’s Elizabeth Timm 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

The last Pendleton player to go to state was Olivia Corbett in 2022. She finished fourth in 5A singles.

Boys 4A/3A/2A/1A state tournament

Stanfield’s Pablo Arellano and Jesus Arellano are not true tennis players, but they are two of the most competitive athletes on the court.

The cousins finished third at the Special District 5 district tournament last week to punch their ticket to state. It’s the first trip to state for both players.

“They don’t have any state experience, but they are excited to go,” Stanfield coach Rylie Smith said. “They can play anything when they put their minds to it. When challenges open up, their eyes light up.”

The Arellanos will open state play Thursday against Oregon Episcopal sophomores Ishaan Bhardwaj and Theo Freres. The Aardvarks were named to the 4A District 1 all-conference first-team.

Weston-McEwen junior Trysten Burns advanced to state after finishing third in singles at the Special District 5 district tournament.

“We are blessed,” W-M coach Troy Olson said. “He only started playing last year. He is playing his best tennis at the right time. He puts in a lot of time and he’s built for it. It’s been fun to watch his improvement.”

Burns received a bye in the first round and will play the winner of the Andrew Leonard (Philomath) and Aston Selley (Catlin Gabel) match on Friday.