The Durango High School girls tennis team battled two opponents Friday: Grand Junction and prom.
A young Demons team took the court against the Tigers on Friday in Grand Junction. The result was a 7-0 sweep in favor of the Tigers.
“We had a ton of different girls playing. It is prom weekend, so our entire squad was freshmen and sophomores (Friday),” DHS head coach Dave Weisfeldt said. “We had four new players in the bottom of the lineup, and everyone else moved up.”
Hannah Liberman won a challenge match against Maggie Hackett earlier in the week to earn the No. 1 singles spot for the weekend. Liberman lost to Carolena Campos 6-0, 6-0.
Hackett lost her No. 2 singles match to Morgen Mantlo 6-3, 6-2. Hackett won the most games by any DHS player Friday.
“Maggie had a great match. She kept the ball in play a little bit longer, but her opponent made her cover the entire court,” Wesifeldt said. “Because of that, she wasn’t able to build any rhythm at all.”
Audrey Morris was defeated 6-2, 6-1 by Sarah Megan Erb at No. 3 singles.
The No. 1 doubles team of Ruby Dekay and Elli Gervais lost 6-2, 6-1 against McKenna Brooks and Jordin Early. Jenna Engelken and Haille Pritchard lost their No. 2 doubles match 6-1, 6-2 to Mariah Prinster and Jessi Smith.
“Our one- and two-doubles teams played with their same partners as the Western Slope tournament. That experience paid off for them,” Weisfeldt said. “They used some strategy, and it was good to see them invent some points and create opportunities for themselves.
“The No. 3 and 4 doubles teams were kids who are new to competitive tennis, and they got a chance to step up.”
Ryann Daly and Braden Higby played No. 3 doubles, and Jazmin Ortiz and Chloe West were the No. 4 doubles team. Both teams lost 6-0, 6-0.
DHS will return to action against Fruita Monument at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Demons hope to have a full lineup back next Friday when they will host Grand Junction Central in their home opener.
“We have home matches April 11 and 12, and we want that to be a turning point in the season where we shift from diagnosis and move into the execution phase of better tennis,” Wesifeldt said. “We will get most of our players back, and we hope to stabilize the lineup.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
