The shorthanded Lady Panthers tennis team battled wind, rain, hail and snow in Grand Junction on Tuesday. After losing 7-0 to Grand Junction Central, Montezuma-Cortez High School played tough, but came up short in a 4-3 loss to Roaring Fork.
M-CHS (3-5, 0-3 4A Southwestern League) also lost to Grand Junction on Saturday, 7-0, and has lost four-straight matches. Some of the varsity players didnt make the trip on Saturday and Tuesday because of academic issues, which enabled some junior varsity youths to step up and gain valuable varsity level experience.
Meg Strauss, Emily Walck, Mary Wright and Tori Stanley stepped up to the varsity level and played well against a very strong and experienced team, M-CHS coach Dan Wood said after the Grand Junction match.
Walck teamed up with Raena Conklin at No. 2 doubles and lost 6-0, 6-0 to Stephanie Skinner and Nicky Arja of Grand Junction. Wright and Jordan Valdez took on Emma Holt and Jillian Arja at No. 3 doubles, but lost 6-1, 6-0. Stanley and Strauss paired up at No. 4 doubles and faced Anne Hughes and Stephanie Wahlers, falling 6-0, 6-0.
On Tuesday, the No. 1 doubles team of Andi Pickens and Jessica Gonzalez (8-3) returned and went 1-1 on the day. The duo lost 6-1, 6-1 to Grand Junction Central, but rebounded to beat Roaring Fork, 6-2, 6-1.
The No. 3 doubles team of Roni Shaner and Sarah Baker also posted a 1-1 mark on Tuesday. They lost a hard fought match to Central, 6-2, 6-4, and came back the following match to defeat Roaring Fork, 6-3, 6-4.
Baker and Shaner had the best performance, Wood said. They lost to Central but played well; a very good, tough match. The next match was Bakers first varsity victory. She was really happy about that.
Sadee Threlkeld got back on the winning track for the Lady Panthers at No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-6, 7-3 win over Roaring Fork.
We had a great road trip. An experience through rain, hail and snow, said Wood. Great performances and great friendship experiences. We played pretty well against Roaring Fork. Im enthusiastic of the upcoming matches this week.
The Lady Panthers conclude the regular season at home on Friday and Saturday with three matches at the Harkendorff Tennis Courts.
On Friday, M-CHS hosts Fruita Monument at 4 p.m. and plays host to Montrose and Aspen at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com