Mavis Edwards saw her sophomore tennis season end with a loss at the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Girls Tennis State Championships on Saturday at City Park in Pueblo.
Edwards, a sophomore at Bayfield High School competing for Durango High’s team, met Cheyenne Mountain junior Morgan Hall in the No. 1 singles third-place match and fell 6-1, 6-0.
While Edwards, who was the No. 1 singles state runner-up last season, wasn’t able to repeat her freshman performance and reach the final, she said she was OK with finishing fourth.
“I didn’t have as tough of a draw as it could have been because I didn’t have to see the really tough girls until later in the bracket,” she said. “A lot of the games were 40-30 or even deuces, so it wasn’t as bad as the score looks. I just couldn’t get over.”
Niwot freshman Lucy Lu, who beat Edwards in the semifinals, knocked off two-time defending champion Josie Schaffer of Kent Denver 7-6, 6-2 to claim the title.
Niwot won the team title with 86 points. It’s the Cougars’ second title – the other championship came in 2008. Cheyenne Mountain, which had won the previous nine titles, finished second with 72 points. Kent Denver and Mullen finished tied for third with 25 points.
DHS finished eighth in the team standings with 16 points, 10 of which came from Edwards.
The third-place match between Edwards and Hall was reminiscent of juniors matches the two shared playing at different tournaments around the region.
“I haven’t played Morgan in a long time, but it was really nice to play her again,” Edwards said. “We’re still great friends, and it was good to see that high level of competition because, unless it’s regionals or up here at state, I don’t get as many of those tough matches.”
Edwards was a regular on the junior tennis tours a few years ago, but after spending time playing club volleyball year-round, she fell off the pace of players such as Hall, Lu and Schaffer. However, Edwards believes her time focused on volleyball has helped her tennis game. She said her serve has gotten stronger thanks to volleyball, and it also kept her in better shape for tennis.
Edwards said this was her final year playing club volleyball, which will open the door for more time on the tennis courts. And after seeing the caliber of play at the state championships, she thinks she’ll be better prepared for her junior season.
But before she looks ahead to her junior tennis season, or the fall volleyball season at BHS, Edwards has plans for a relaxing summer with a family cruise in the Caribbean and an excursion through the Alps in Europe.
“I think it will be a nice break and some good time to relax and take a break,” Edwards said. “And I think after everything I’ve been doing, I’m ready for a break.”
kschneider@durangoherald.com
