Unfazed by its inexperience and clearly tuned its to their new head coach, the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls tennis team acquitted itself well in its season in Cortez on March 10.
Among the highlights for the Lady Panthers were two solid performances from No. 1 singles player Andria Battle, who had never played a high school singles match prior to last weekend.
Opening the day against Delta’s No. 1 singles player, Makyla Miramontes, Battle looked comfortable from start to finish as she engaged in several long rallies and hit multiple forehand winners. Although Battle’s inability to win key points ultimately resulted in a 2-6, 3-6 loss, the M-CHS senior expressed satisfaction with her performance.
“I feel like I played really good,” Battle said. “Me and the (Miramontes) went to deuce a lot and played a lot of competitive points. She did beat me, but I’m not upset about it. I’m a lot less nervous.”
Also turning in a solid performance against Delta was M-CHS’s No. 2 singles player Kaila Carver, who went toe to toe with Cassidy Parker before losing, 3-6, 6-4, 8-10. Especially impressive during Carver’s performance was her ability to adjust to Parker’s blistering forehand, which the M-CHS senior admitted took some getting used to.
“(Parker’s) first couple (forehands) were pretty hard to get,” said Carver. “After I realized where she was shooting, I stepped back and tried to read them. I felt like the match went good.”
Rounding out the singles matches for M-CHS, Lady Panthers senior Angel Veach squared off against Delta’s Mesa Mulford for what turned out to be a competitive 2-6, 6-2, 8-10 loss.
Among the notable features of the entertaining match were several displays of sportsmanship by both players, who consistently complimented and encouraged each other throughout the match.
“I’m very proud of myself, to be honest,” Veach said. “I wasn’t expecting to win anything, but after the first set was done, I warmed up.”
Competing against Delta in the No. 1 doubles match, M-CHS’s Kasity Porambo and Rylee Majors lost to Lupita Portillo and Elena Melgoza, 2-6, 3-6. In the No. 2 doubles match, M-CHS’s duo of Tessa Porter and Alaina Howard lost to Amanda Fuller and Pascalina Earley, 0-6, 1-6.
After taking an extended break for lunch, M-CHS players returned to the court to face Miyamura High School and failed to win a match.
At No. 1 singles, Battle lost to Sam Komaravolu 2-6, 0-6 and at No. 2 singles, Carver fell to Sarah Espinoza, 3-6, 0-6.
Veach was again competitive for the Lady Panthers during a 4-6, 5-7 loss to Anna Ferguson, while No. 1 doubles players Paramo and Majors lost to Karime Bejarono and Makenna Wenning, 1-6, 1-6. In the No. 2 doubles match, Porter and Howard were shut out by Caroline Lisco and Grace O’Leary, 0-6, 0-6.
“For having every single girl on the team never having experienced a day like today, for them to come out and put up the numbers they did, I’m really impressed,” said M-CHS head coach Christopher Kelly. “We have a lot to work on, but the potential is wide open.”
The Lady Panthers next match will take place at home against Durango High School on March 14.