POULSBO — If the doubles tennis strategy that claims, “the team that lets the ball bounce least, wins,” is true, then the two North Kitsap pairs who headed into the West Central District Tournament yesterday are bona-fide proof.

The four North Kitsap Vikings’ girls tennis players headed to districts — Kearney Bangs, Erin Gallagher, Meagan Grandall and Emili Kishi — all credit their successes on the court to an aggressive style of play that typically closes the point with a forceful volley or overhead smash. Ground strokes are few and far between, with each team on the offensive in getting to the net as quickly as possible.

“We’re really aggressive,” said Gallagher, who with Bangs, got third place in the league tournament to advance to districts. “We know how to finish the point. And we always finish the point before our opponents.”

As of Thursday, Gallagher, a senior, and Bangs, a junior, had only lost two matches the entire season — both to the Bellarmine doubles tandem that won the state title a year ago. Another secret to the pair’s success, they commented, is that they both compliment each other in their on-court skills and their off-court dispositions.

“We have similar personalities,” Gallagher said. “That’s the first sign of a great doubles team.”

Bangs said at first she was intimidated playing with an older partner but found that playing “up” advanced her game.

“I was nervous playing with her because she’s really good,” Bangs said of their partnership. “We just gradually got better working together.

“Playing with these older girls really inspires me,” Bangs added. “They’re always upbeat at practice and always cheering us on at the matches.”

Perhaps no one senior is as satisfied with a district appearance than the ever-patient Grandall, who, after three years of trying, broke through the league tournament to make the west central competition with her partner, Kishi.

“I never cry,” she said. “But when I won, I cried. I couldn’t believe it.”

Their partnership, too, wasn’t planned until mid-season.

“It came out of nowhere,” Grandall said. “One day in the middle of the season, Ms. (Trish) Olson just put us together.”

Kishi played doubles her first two years at North whereas Grandall played singles. The two flip-flopped last year, only to finally come to the same doubles wavelength this year.

“I wasn’t used to playing doubles this year,” Kishi admitted. “But I really feel confident playing with Meagan. I always know exactly where she is on the court. And if we lose, we’re not afraid to talk about it with each other.”

Grandall commented that Kishi’s well-rounded game makes her a force in either singles or doubles.

“When she’s on, she’s on,” Grandall said of Kishi. “She’s so aggressive. Her serves are so good.”

Kishi admitted that all seriousness aside, she’s enjoyed playing with Grandall more than any other partner.

“We just have a lot of fun together,” she said. “She’s the most fun partner I’ve ever had.”

North Kitsap is wrapping up a highly successful girls tennis season. The team took second in the Narrows Bridge and saw three singles and two doubles teams compete in the Narrows tournament, along with sending the two doubles teams to district, a first-ever for the school. Coming to terms with what could be the final weekend for the three seniors in their four-year high school careers has not been easy. But what a way to go out, they commented.

“I’m just really excited to be in this position,” Grandall said.