Mounds Park sisters pursue batch of titles

Taylor and Amber Washington are no different from most sisters. They raid each other's closets. They move in different social circles. They fight -- frequently, by their own admission.

Yet the Washingtons can claim one thing other sisters can't: They are the top two girls' tennis players in Class 1A.

Together, they lead No. 1-ranked Mounds Park Academy into the state tournament, which begins today and runs through Friday at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Taylor, a senior, is the No. 1-ranked singles player in Class 1A; Amber, a sophomore, is ranked No. 2. And those rankings might be more a reflection of their ages than their abilities.

"They're pretty close to each other," said Mounds Park coach Justen Seim, when asked who is better. "Their styles are very similar."

In fact, the last time they played a meaningful match against each other -- it was in a USTA tournament last summer -- Amber beat her older sister.

Being older does have its advantages, however. In addition to trying to lead the Panthers to a team title, Taylor is also the Section 4 singles champion. Amber is paired with teammate Kate Roach in the doubles competition.

"I always let the older kids get their choice of where they play [in the postseason]," Seim said. Taylor and Brenna [Kelly] are both seniors, so they got first choice."

Amber is not upset at being forced to play doubles. She has won three previous state doubles championships -- last year with Roach and in 2006 and 2007 with then-teammate Beth Larson. Amber's state tournament success has Taylor hoping for a little state tournament success of her own.

"She has deserved all of the doubles championships she's won," Taylor said. "And, yes, I would love to win a championship, too."

First, however, is the matter of a team title. Mounds Park Academy won the championship in 2007, but that was largely because of a lineup mistake made by Rochester Lourdes. This year, the Panthers' goal is to win the championship on their own merits.

"We think about that year all the time," Amber Washington said. "There's a little pressure to prove we deserve a championship."

Edina, undefeated and ranked No. 1, will be shooting for its 13th consecutive team championship at the Class 2A meet, which takes place at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.

Minnetonka junior Aria Lambert, the defending Class 2A singles champion, is undefeated and has not lost a set this season. She will be shooting for her second consecutive singles title.