TACOMA — Kearney Bangs wasn’t sure how her North Kitsap doubles season would be this year after her 2005 partner Erin Gallagher graduated last year.

The duo finished fourth at the West Central District tournament last year en route to a fourth-place finish at the state tourney. But with Bangs and new doubles mate, sophomore Britt Seaberg, assured of a return district trip, Bangs thinks the new partnership is going just fine.

“It’s worked out really well,” Bangs said after the squad won it’s opening match Wednesday, 6-3, 6-1 over Olympia’s Elena Pellicer and Heather Kanikerberg. “She’s done good and we’ve been good as a team.”

Seaberg, who noted that the duo had only played about five league matches together before the postseason, said playing with Bangs has given her more confidence as well.

“It’s nice,” Seaberg said. “We just have to keep coming out strong and see how far we can get.”

The combination has also suited coach Terry Grimm well.

“It took some time to figure out who would lay with whom this season,” Grimm said.

She added that one of the things that makes NK’s No. 1 duo so formidable is their mental toughness.

“They’re both mentally strong,” Grimm said. “It’s not too much of a worry. They encourage each other. They move well together. Both have a certain amount of confidence they carry with them that carries over into the game.”

On Thursday, Bangs and Seaberg dumped another Bear squad, Mandy Ly and Marta Helpenstell, with confidence in 6-1 straight sets.

But the seemingly state-bound duo isn’t the only Viking doubles team making a little noise at the NL tourney.

North Kitsap seniors Joanna Kaiserman and Sara Kiesinger (a German exchange student) fell to Ly and Helpenstell 6-2, 6-0 in the first round. But in consolation, the pair outlasted Pellicer and Kanikerberg 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Then Thursday, they topped Capital’s Jena Russell and Marissa Gubbee by the same score.

A win Friday against Gig Harbor’s Dana Misterek and Lindsay Burrows would secure the group a trip to districts. Results were unavailable at press time.

“They’re both fine players,” Grimm said. “I’m thinking they’ll do alright.”

On the singles side, Viking No. 1 Renee McDougall fell 6-3, 6-3 to Nell Shonnard of Bellarmine. Vasu Chalasani of Olympia then ended McDougall’s season 6-1, 6-0 in the consolation bracket.

The Narrows League tournament wrapped up Friday, the West Central District tournament will take place at 8 a.m. May 17 at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma.