Points did not come easily for the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls tennis team last weekend as the team was dominated by Fruita Monument on April 8 and Grand Junction on April 9.
Representing the Lady Panthers at No. 1 singles, senior Andria Battle lost to Fruita Monument’s Sarah Fleming, 6-0, 6-0, and Grand Junction’s Julianna Campos, 6-0, 6-0. Despite the lopsided losses however, Battle was not dismayed.
“(Fleming) was really good,” Battle said. “She went to Class 5A state (last year) and won a match. She plays with her dad hours every day. (Campos) was also really good, but I felt good about my backhand. I also felt good about my serves sometimes, but my shoulder has been bothering me.”
Competing at No. 2 singles for the Panthers was senior Kayla Carver, who lost to Fruita Monument’s Tayvia Voytilla, 6-0, 6-1, and Grand Junction’s Isabel Manzanares, 6-3, 6-0. At No. 3 singles, Angel Veach lost to Fruita’s Alexa Jo Williams, 6-0, 6-1, and did not compete against Grand Junction.
The Lady Panthers No. 1 doubles team of Brooke Ward and Ronee Dennison lost to Fruita Monument’s team of Mia Maynard and Amber Skillicorn. 6-0, 6-0, and Grand Junction’s team of Bree Call and Elise Larson, 6-0, 6-0.
M-CHS No. 2 doubles players Rylee Majors and Kasity Porambo suffered a similar fate, losing to Fruita Monument’s Sofia Treider and Katie Ward, 6-0, 6-0, and Grand Junction’s Lauren Lelas and Emily Starritt, 6-2, 6-0.
At No. 3 doubles, M-CHS’ pair of Courtney Kucurek and Caitlynn McKnight lost to Fruita Monument, 6-0, 6-2, and Grand Junction, 6-0, 6-1, while at No. 4 doubles, Tessa Porter and Alaina Howard lost to Fruita Monument, 6-0, 6-0, and Grand Junction, 6-0, 6-0.
“We’re (Class) 3A and they’re (Class) 5A,” McKnight said. “They have private courts so they can play a lot more than we can. We gave it our best and even though we lost, it was fun and they were really nice.”
“(This weekend) was a great experience, especially for our freshmen who are playing doubles” added M-CHS head coach Chris Kelley. “I know the scores don’t show it, but we played.”
Asked where his team can improve before its home match against Durango on April 11, Kelley mentioned that his team must continue to focus on improving its fundamentals before commending his players’ improvements.
“It was just little mistakes here and there that caused them to get points. Comparing what we saw in the first tournament to what we are seeing now, it’s so impressive how much each of these girls has grown. I’m just really proud of our entire team.”