Although victories evaded the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls tennis team during its home match against Durango on April 11, Christopher Kelley remained positive.
“Every time we play, we get better and better,” said the Lady Panthers head coach. “Our match against Durango was by far the best match that I’ve watched any of the girls play. I keep telling them that every time we play, it’s just practice for regionals.”
Competing at No. 1 singles for the Panthers as she has throughout the season, senior Andria Battle faced off against Maggie Hackett and lost, 6-0, 6-0. M-CHS senior Kaila Carver experienced similar results in the No. 2 singles match, falling to Emma Hackett, 6-0, 6-0.
“I think I played better in this match,” Carver said. “I did all of my movements the way that I should and I had better technique. (Emma Hackett) was a good opponent. She came up to the net and did some hard hits on me that were hard to defend.”
In the No. 3 singles match, Lady Panthers’ senior Angel Veach lost to Jenna Engelken, 6-1, 6-1, while at No. 1 doubles, Ronee Dennison and Brooklynn Ward lost to Lily Chick and Emmy West, 6-1, 6-0.
“I felt like my serves and most of my returns were pretty solid,” Ward said.
“I think we’re making a lot of improvements so far,” added Dennison. “We still need to improve on our rallies.”
At No. 2 doubles, the Panthers duo Kasity Porambo and Rylee Majors lost to Emma Jaber and Ruby DeCora, 6-0, 6-0, while in No 3 doubles, the Panthers team of Courtney Kocurek and Caitlyn McKnight lost to Ryann Daly and Mira Joiner, 6-1, 6-1.
In the No. 4 doubles match, Panthers Tessa Porter and Alaina Howard lost to Durango’s Camille Jacobs and Emma Vogel, 6-1, 6-1.
Still searching for their first match win of the season, the Lady Panthers will next travel to face Montrose on April 28.