For weeks on end, the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls’ tennis team has shown improvement. Now if only the Panthers could find a way to win.
M-CHS falls to Montrose
Opening up last weekend’s play at home against Montrose High School on April 11, the Panthers battled their league rival from start to finish, winning two of their seven matches on the day.
At No. 1 singles, Panthers’ senior Tara Abrams ran into a tough opponent, losing to Alysea Areallane, 6-2, 6-4.
Panthers’ No. 2 singles player Raquel Lucero suffered a similar fate, falling to Kellyn Alexander in a hotly contested match, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.
Continuing the Panthers’ spate of tough luck in singles matches, No. 3 singles player Kearra Boggs lost to Maddie Lewulhouser, 6-2, 6-3.
Picking up a much needed win for the Panthers at No. 1 doubles were Jaci Veach and Skye Cole, who beat Chloe Peterson and Allis Engle, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.
At No. 2 doubles, Tori Calliham and Laurel Chappell lost to Aspen McCall and Dorthey Wolamin, 6-3, 7-5.
The Panthers’ No. 3 doubles team of Sera King and Paige Bailey won 6-4, 7-5, while the No. 4 doubles team made up of Natasha Gordon and Ashley Moore lost, 6-4, 7-5.
“It was just a matter of a few plays here and there and we would have won,” said Panthers’ head coach Dan Wood, discussing his team’s performance.
Panthers dominated by Central
Returning to action against Grand Junction Central on April 12, the Panthers again played tough and again won two of seven matches.
For Abrams, life at No. 1 singles again proved difficult as the senior lost to Keira Trujillo, 6-1, 6-0.
Also losing for the Panthers was Lucero at No. 2 singles by a score of 6-3, 6-7, 10-5.
Highlighting the day for the Panthers was Boggs, who, playing impressively, beat Erin McCloskey, 6-1, 6-2.
“(Boggs) started picking up her power a little bit,” said Wood. “She had good placement and her serve really confused her opponent.”
At No. 1 doubles, Veach and Cole lost 6-1, 6-4, while at No. 2 doubles, Chappell and Calliham lost, 6-0, 6-3.
In the No. 3 doubles match, Bailey and King lost 7-5, 4-6, 10-12 and at No. 4 doubles, Tamara Espinoza and Ashley Moore lost, 6-2, 6-2.
Next up for the Panthers will be the Delta Tournament, which will take place April 18-19 in Delta.