New faces make for new challenges.
The Durango High School girls tennis team had to pull up a bevy of junior varsity players after a number of its varsity players took off for spring break.
A last-minute injury to Hannah Lieberman made for even more shuffling.
The result at the 13-team Delta Tournament this weekend: a few placers and plenty of hard-to-swallow experience.
At No. 1 singles in the pro-set style, double-elimination tournament, Erin Neale took fifth place, dropping only her first round 8-3 to Glenwood Springs, which ended up taking first place in that bracket.
Neale won her second match against Fruita Monument 8-3, then her third against Cedar Ridge by the same margin.
In the fifth-place round she beat Paonia in two sets 6-1, 6-4.
At No. 2 singles, Jamie Wanzek beat Glenwood Springs 8-3, then lost to Vail Mountain 8-3 in the second match, but that put her in the third-place round where she beat Fruita Monument 6-1, 6-3.
Rachel Redders filled Hannah Liebermans spot, jumping up from No. 1 doubles. She lost to Fruita Monument 8-4, then beat Cedar Ridge 8-7 (12-10). She lost her last match to Grand Junction 8-3.
But she did a really great job, and she was enthusiastic about getting to play singles, first-year DHS tennis head coach Laura Ehlers said.
In doubles, Durangos No. 1 pair, Jenni Snowberger and Charlotte Piquet, lost to Vail Mountain 8-2, then to Hotchkiss 8-3.
At No. 2 doubles, Hannah Carpenter and Vale Caldentey lost to Fruita Monument 8-0, then Montrose 8-0.
At No. 3 doubles, Ellen Campbell and Tyllor Ledford, who was supposed to be the Demons alternate, lost to Hotchkiss 8-0 and Delta 8-6.
So they were getting better, Ehlers said. Kudos to Tyllor for stepping up and playing.
Because of all the missing players, the Demons didnt have enough players to field a fourth doubles team.
Tournaments are such great experience, Ehlers said. To have half of my team be junior varsity and get that experience is great.
The Demons will play a tennis doubleheader next weekend Grand Junction Central at 9 a.m. Friday in Grand Junction, then Montrose at 4 p.m. Friday in Montrose.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
