The match ready Demons were prepared to earn a home win Tuesday.
The Durango High School girls tennis team welcomed Montrose for a home match, and the Demons prevailed in the seven varsity matches 5-2.
“Montrose brought a strong team this year. This match could have easily gone the other way,” said DHS head coach Darren Tarshis. “But our players have played a preseason, three dual matches and a tournament to prepare and be match ready.”
No. 3 singles player Mia Boughton was able to secure a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Montrose’s Katy Story for the Demons’ lone singles win.
At No. 1 singles, Jenna Baker of DHS fell 6-1, 6-1 to Cora Blowers, while it was Andie Blowers who earned a 6-1, 6-3 victory against Ellie Davenport of DHS at No. 2 singles.
Durango was dominant in doubles all day. At No. 1 doubles, Sydney Pritchard and Amanda Whidden avoided a third set by beating Rhyan Neary and Melaina Yoder 6-3, 7-6 by winning the second-set tiebreaker 7-3.
At No. 2 doubles, it was Adwyn Chowen and Juliet DiGiacomo who won 6-1, 6-1 against Montrose’s Pragati Chaudhary and Violet Noel.
The win at No. 3 doubles went to Durango’s Lola Bradshaw and Addie Cady, who beat Alyssa Oman and Samantha Go 6-3, 6-4.
Hazel Cleaves and Litzy Lopez closed out the day with a 7-6, 6-0 victory at No. 4 doubles against Ariana Najar and Gaby Rosales. Winning a 12-10 tiebreaker in the first set gave the Durango side all the momentum going to the second.
Tarshis was pleased to see his teams win when sets came to tiebreakers, and he hopes DHS carries momentum into this weekend’s home match against Grand Junction Central.
He is eager to get more players the chance to compete on their home court.
“For the first time in more than a decade, DHS has a junior varsity tennis team with a JV match schedule,” Tarshis said. “We have 35 girls playing on varsity, JV or developmental. This depth is helping us greatly when players have been in quarantine.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
