Despite its improvements on the court, wins continue to elude the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls’ tennis team.
Opening last weekend at home against Fruita Monument on March 20, the Lady Panthers were thoroughly dominated in route to a 7-0 loss.
Highlighting the day for M-CHS was the play of No. 2 doubles players Kristin Pierce and Angel Veach, who lost to Madison Ketchem and Sam Gardner, 6-2, 6-4.
Getting an especially tough draw was Lady Panthers No. 1 singles player Raquel Lucero, who matched up one of Colorado’s top young players in Sarah Fleming and lost, 6-1, 6-0.
“(Sarah) was really good,” said Lucero. “I tried to keep the ball in play and I tried to practice things that I could work on while playing a good player. My goal was to get better.”
Playing its second match of the weekend at home against Glenwood Springs on March 21, M-CHS played far better, but lost, 4-3.
Among the Lady Panthers winners was Lucero, who battled back from a tough first set to defeat Sophia Nelson, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Key to Lucero’s victory was her ability to score off big first serves, which kept Nelson off balance.
“If you can get good serves, you can win,” said Lucero. After that first set, I had to tell myself to win. I think that tennis is really a mental game and I got to that mental level today.”
Also winning for the Lady Panthers were No. 1 doubles players Tori Calliham and Ashley Moore, who defeated Kenna Zilm and Maritza Ruiv, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
“We focused a lot and made a lot of precise shots,” said Calliham.
“We were trying to put the ball in specific areas that it was going to be hard for them to get to,” added Moore.
Rounding out M-CHS’s winners was the No. 2 doubles tandem of Veach and Pierce, who defeated Avery Nieslanik and Taylor Fisaos, 6-1, 6-2.