TACOMA — In a sense, when North Kitsap Tennis’ No. 1 girls doubles team earned a state bid through the district consolation bracket, Kearney Bangs is now symbolically passing a torch of experience onto her doubles partner, sophomore Britt Seaberg.

A year ago, Bangs received the flame through a fourth-place finish at the state tournament with her doubles partner, then-senior Erin Gallagher.

This year, Bangs has helped lead the Lady Vikes by exuding the confidently insistent style of play that the 2005 NK doubles teams thrived on.

“Kearney’s aggressive,” said NK assistant coach Vic Nelson. “She’s a force at the net. She can scare her opponents.”

“Britt’s consistent as all get-out, that’s what makes them a good team,” head coach Terry Grimm added.

Bangs’ quick first steps and strong swings matched with Seaberg’s steady backup has allowed the team to take more chances in matches. The combination connected more than halfway through the season with only five games before playoff time.

Once the playoffs arrived, the girls hit the ground running.

At the co-ed West Central/Southwest District matches May 17 in Tacoma, Bangs and Seaburg took the road through the consolation bracket and into the state tournament.

In their first match of the day, the NK girls began with energy and a killer instinct which propelled them over Puyallup’s Weston and Robbins in 6-4, 6-1 fashion.

In the quarterfinals, Skyline’s Olbrich and Click defeated Bangs and Seaberg in 6-3 straight sets, sending the NK team to the consolation bracket.

Fighting for a state berth, the Lady Vikings ran into another Skyline duo, Daniels and Cloakey. In a battle of three sets to end the day, Bangs and Seaberg dropped the first game 4-6, but came back to finish off the Lady Spartans 6-3, 6-3.

“We have each other’s backs on the court,” Bangs said of team’s trust. “If (I) don’t get the ball, (she) is there.”

But May 20 in the district semi-finals the Lady Vikes weren’t fully there. They lost in bad form to Gig Harbor’s Bvrnstad and Hildbrand, prompting a confidence check before the state meet.

“I think we need to build up the confidence from Saturday,” Bangs noted. “I’m excited to play like we can.”

Though the state stage is well known for filling stomachs with butterflies, the Lady Vikings are confident in their ability no matter what court they are playing on.

“I think we play really well under pressure,” Seaberg said, noting that the stress of state shouldn’t overwhelm their game.

The NK ladies will swing for state success at the 2006 WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington 4A Tennis Tournament May 25-27 in Vancouver.