MOSES LAKE - After finishing 3-3 in league play last year, the Moses Lake boys tennis team is looking to be among the best this season.

And the team has a good chance of meeting its goal as the Chiefs return three letterman to the roster

"My top three players Levi Huddleston, Tyler Knapp and Josh Black had a lot of successful last year," coach  Jon Wrigley said. "They have all improved and not relaxed in the off-season."

Huddleston, a senior captain this year, was Second Team All-League in 2011. He has 25 career wins and is returning for a second season at the top of the ladder as the No. 1 singles player for the Chiefs.

Knapp, who is also a senior and a captain on the team, was honorable mention last year. He has 31 career wins and is moving up from to  the No. 2 singles.

Black, was honorable mention in 2011. He has 22 career wins, and is the No. 3 singles player for Moses Lake.

"Levi gives his opponents so little they just break down mentally," Wrigley said. "Tyler had 19 wins last year and won the Lewiston Invite second doubles and has shown the ability to win big matches.

And Josh continues to grow on the court. He played some tough matches early on in high school and he seems to have really turned the corner."

The Chiefs lost some experience in the doubles ladder to graduation, so they will have to rely on players that have not had much playing time in league competition. 

"Senior Levi Cody Jones, playing at the No. 4 singles position has limited experience but is very important the teams team to success this year," Wrigley said. "Sophomore Drew Perez  has a strong future. He can push the top three guys every now and then and has a big game and plays with confidence. And junior Tiernan Hall has improved from a top JV player to a player on the top half of our team. He's a lefty with a nice serve and a complete game."

The stiffest competition Moses Lake will face this season is Wenatchee.

The Panthers are the top team in the state, and is absolutely loaded every year, Wrigley said. And Richland, an always tough opponent, is good enough to win most leagues at the 4A level.

Although the Chiefs are not quite on par with the Panthers and Bombers, Wrigley said Moses Lake will be a forced to be reckoned with.

"We are a solid team that should find success quite often this season," he said. "I'd be very surprised if we did not improve our league record this year."

Moses Lake will see how they match up with the competition this year when the Chiefs go head-to-head with Mead tomorrow in Spokane.

Girls have room to improve

The Moses Lake Chiefs girls tennis team finished 1-5 in the Columbia Basin Big Nine last year. But their record wasn't necessarily indicative as to how the team performs on the court.

"Last year our depth kept us close in every game, but we didn't win some close ones at the top of the ladder," Wrigley said. "If we can be more competitive at the top and finish off our opportunities we will improve record wise this year."

The Chiefs have a core group of returning player this season, but are short on experience with many new faces on the team.

The players Wrigley will look to lead Moses Lake include Junior Courtney Kunjara, who is a three year varsity and CBBN honorable mention player in 2011, is the top returner for Moses Lake.

Senior and team captain Annalise Odegaard has played varsity for three years. She has 21 wins the past two seasons. And senior Becca Byam, a team captain, is playing her  second year on varsity.

"Courtney has a full year playing the No. 1 singles. Her match experience will help her this year.  She is working on gaining more weapons and developing points," Wrigley said. "Annalise has been such a great part of this team. She is fierce and determined on the court.  She could potentially do some great things this season at the top of our doubles ladder. And Becca is playing with Annalise this year. They are friends on and off the court."

The stiffest competition in league play this season Wrigley said will come from Walla Walla, Davis, and Wenatchee, who return all of their top players.

The Chiefs will be put to the test tomorrow when they travel to Panther country to match up with Mead High School.