After pitching a 7-0 shutout the day before at Montrose, the Durango High School boys tennis team knew it would face a tougher fate Saturday at Fruita Monument.

“Fruita is a juggernaut,” Demons’ head coach Dave Weisfeldt said.

Fruita Monument proved Weisfeldt correct.

The Wildcats beat the Demons 6-1.

“We knew we were going to get tested going in,” Weisfeldt said. “And I’m not disappointed with our play.

“You can’t like the loss, but we can like the way we handled ourselves.”

Fred Edwards was the Demons’ success story. The Demons’ No. 1 singles player beat Matt Harris 7-5, 6-3.

Drew Downs lost 6-3, 6-0 to Randy Hurshman at No. 2 singles.

Alijah Konikowski lost 6-0, 6-0 to Scott Nolan at No. 3 singles.

“It’s hard to differentiate one through four with their doubles,” Weisfeldt said.

Sure enough, the Wildcats swept the Demons in doubles play.

At No. 1 doubles, Jake Schanfarber and Gavin Syme lost 6-1, 6-1 to Colton Reimer and James Stagg.

At No. 2 doubles, Will Downs and Micah Hwang were the Demons’ “shining light.” They lost 6-4, 6-2 to Ben Bishop and Blaine McCormick, but the freshman (Hwang) and junior (Downs) “were moving together really well.”

Similar to Downs and Hwang, Blaise Page and Riley Wanzek “were playing well, moving well” in their 6-1, 6-2 loss to Jackson Cesark and Peyton Harmon at No. 3 doubles.

Jake Beekman and Amon Ledger-Swenson lost 6-0, 6-0 to Davis Deussen and Brandon Lovato at No. 4 doubles.

“That was good for us,” Weisfeldt said. “They exposed some of our weaknesses. We learned something new.”

heraldsports@durangoherald.com