After numerous close losses in the past month, the Durango tennis team won easily on Thursday by going on the road to defeat Pueblo West 7-0.
The Demons improved to 2-3 overall with the win. Durango’s three losses had each been 4-3.
“We've been really prepared in practice, we focus on a lot of different skills,” Durango senior and team captain Rachel Ager said. “We came in ready to play this match and I think our doubles teams felt confident together. The singles have had a lot of practice. Everyone was just feeling comfortable in their positions and ready to go out and hit some of their best.”
Ager said the team has been working on judging balls that are being returned to them and being prepared for every rally during practice.
Durango senior Adwyn Chowen won the number one singles match in two sets 7-5 and 6-1. Demons sophomore Jordan Kitchen won her number two singles match in two sets 6-2 and 6-3.
Ager won her number three singles match in two sets 6-3 and 6-3.
“My main thing was staying relaxed and playing my game,” Ager said. “I was really focusing on hitting strong returns so I could start off each point strongly and then just working on keeping the rally in play and hitting deeper groundstrokes, which is one of my strengths.”
In number one doubles, Durango junior Rose Hinds and senior Juliet DiGiacomo won in two sets 7-6 and 6-3.
Demons junior Molly Best and senior Ella Frihauf won their number two doubles match in two sets 6-2 and 6-3.
Ager has been impressed by Best’s play and her communication in Best’s first year playing varsity tennis.
In number three doubles, Durango freshman Natalie Christensen and senior Isabel Bohachevsky won their match in two sets 6-3 and 7-6.
Demons senior Lauryn Christensen and junior McKenzie Hayden won their number four doubles match in two sets 6-0 and 6-2.
The Durango girls tennis team is playing on Friday and Saturday in the Pueblo South Invitational.
“We'll have to approach each match with a fresh mindset because every team and every player has a different style and it can totally vary with how difficult it can be,” Ager said.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
