Lucy Thomas and Lucy King have such similar abilities on the tennis court that rallies between them at practice can go on forever. That’s a nice problem to have when you’re trying to build consistency. It’s a less useful one when the goal is to actually win a point.
So the top two singles players for the Philomath High School girls tennis team went to coach Mark Orozco with a request — they needed something more.
Gallery: PHS girls tennis vs. Stayton (April 21, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s girls tennis victory at home over Stayton on Tuesday.
“They came to me and said, ‘hey, we’re consistent but we need something else’ and so that’s when we started working on changing their game to an offensive game as opposed to all defense,” Orozco said. “So they’re progressing … we’ll start trying to do that a little more and it seemed to work today.”
The answer was the slice. The Warriors’ two Lucys have been grinding on it in practice and got their first real chance to use it in match play Tuesday on the home courts during Philomath’s 7-1 win over Stayton.
King, a senior playing at No. 2 singles, called the shot a game-changer.
“Lucy (Thomas) and I have been practicing slices in practice and so this was the first match that we got to implement those — that was a cool aspect,” King said. “It totally changed our game because we play very similarly, so we would rally a ton and the slices end the point.”
Thomas, a junior now holding down the No. 1 singles spot, said after a 6-0, 6-2 win over Stayton junior Elise Comstock, “I’ve been working on my slice and I’m trying to get it just like a drop shot right over the net.”
Orozco thought Thomas might have a tougher time in her match than she did.
“In challenge matches, Lucy Thomas is winning now so she’s earned her No. 1 spot pretty well,” he said. “She played really well today. I thought she might have a little more trouble than what she was going to have with her opponent but she took care of it.”
King rolled past junior Amelia Woods, 6-0, 6-1.
“Not quite as tough of an opponent but she didn’t give her any room to do anything,” Orozco said.
Thomas took over the top singles slot this spring after the graduation of Adele Beckstead, a four-year varsity player who placed third at state last season. Thomas played No. 2 and No. 3 singles a year ago.
“I definitely have big shoes to fill but I think it’s been going pretty well,” Thomas said. “I think it’s helped me improve a lot. I feel like I’ve actually been able to keep up with most people that I play, so I’m a little surprised by that.”
Thomas is 5-3 this season while managing asthma that has affected her availability.
“I’ve been having some health issues so it’s been off and on but I’ve been winning pretty much all of my matches,” she said.
King, meanwhile, is 4-0 in singles, all in straight sets. She played No. 3 singles in her first two matches and has been at No. 2 for the last two after missing time early in the year. She also paired with junior Clara Neville for a doubles win.
“I would love to be first singles,” King said when asked to share a personal goal. “I was gone for a couple weeks at the beginning of the season so I started out lower and I’ve been climbing up.”
That climb puts her in regular practice battles with Thomas, and both players said the matchup has lifted their games.
“I think we definitely push each other to play better,” Thomas said. “We play each other like every day, though, and it kind of leans either way.”
King sees it the same way.
“She’s a little bit better than I am but it’s really been helpful to have somebody who’s at the same skill level as I am to play,” King said. “We’re both improving pretty quickly.”
The two Lucys aren’t the only ones on the roster who go by the name — senior Lucie Oster rounds out the trio.
“Honestly, I’ve gotten to the point where if someone says Lucy, I don’t really look because I’m so used to it being Lucy King or Lucie Oster but it definitely gets confusing,” Thomas laughed.
Against Stayton, the Warriors swept the singles matches. Junior Cecilia Milesi defeated Paige Cooper, 7-6, 6-2, at No. 3, and sophomore Ella Hammonds topped senior Miranda Ritchie, 7-6, 6-2, at No. 4.
Stayton’s only win came at No. 1 doubles, where junior Kathryn Samek and sophomore Alyssa Schotthoefer downed Oster and Neville, 6-3, 6-2. Philomath took the other three doubles matches behind sophomores Bethany Cannon and Bella Nuñez at No. 2 (6-3, 6-1), senior Maggie King and junior Lizzie Workman at No. 3 (3-6, 7-6, 6-2) and seniors Logan Cook and Lacey Bacho at No. 4 (6-0, 6-1).
Philomath is scheduled to return to the courts Wednesday with a trip to Eugene to face Marist Catholic. The match is set for a 4 p.m. start.
Philomath 7, Stayton 1
Tuesday, April 21, at Philomath HS
Singles
Lucy Thomas, PHS, def. Elise Comstock, 6-0, 6-2; Lucy King, PHS, def. Amelia Woods, 6-0, 6-1; Cecilia Milesi, PHS, def. Paige Cooper, 7-6, 6-2; Ella Hammonds, PHS, def. Miranda Ritchie, 7-6, 6-2.
Doubles
Alyssa Schotthoefer/Kathryn Samek, SHS, def. Lucie Oster/Clara Neville, 6-3, 6-2; Bethany Cannon/Bella Nuñez, PHS, def. Lucy Loving/Traeh Urquhart, 6-3, 6-1; Maggie King/Lizzie Workman, PHS, def. Zuri Anderson/Zinea Anderson, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2; Logan Cook/Lacey Bacho, PHS, def. Kiara West/Margaret Trott, 6-0, 6-1.
