A chilly, windswept breeze blew through Cortez on Tuesday afternoon.
Thats good tennis weather.
The Lady Panthers season served into action at the Jim Harkendorff Tennis Courts for Montezuma-Cortez High School.
M-CHS welcomed talented rival Durango. There were some close matches, but the experienced Lady Demons prevailed. The young Lady Panthers lost 7-0.
Im trying to stay positive, because its never pleasant to lose all seven matches, M-CHS coach Dan Wood said. The positive side with it is I know that weve got the potential to beat Durango later on in the season. If we work hard, and what happened to them (Durango) today, where they start feeling it and in a groove, if that were to happens to us, we can beat this team.
Doubles play was very competitive. The No. 1 team of Emily Walck and Charley Stewart fought tooth and nail with Durangos Sierra Lillard and Gina Gates. The Lady Panthers battled to a hard-fought 7-6 first set win. Lillard and Gates answered convincingly with a 6-0 second set, setting up the epic, tie-breaking third set. The Durango duo built an early lead before Walck and Stewart stormed back. Ultimately, it was a tough match and a tough ending for the Lady Panthers. Walck and Stewart lost the tiebreaker 10-7.
I definitely think that this is a good match to come out with, Walck said about the final result. Theyre a really good team. To come out against a team like this, I think we felt pretty good. We know how to stay in it, especially when it gets close. I think we learned a lot from today.
It is the first year the two are paired as doubles. So far, so good.
Its going good, Stewart said. I think that its nice that weve gotten to know each other. Working together is easy as long as we communicate. Weve gotten that part down. I think weve got it covered. We just have small things to work on.
The remaining doubles matches were highly contested. Raena Concklin and upstart freshman Nicole Demby lost at No. 2s, 4-6, 2-6, to Claire Ochsner and Jamie Wanzek.
Shes just a real star for her age, and shes playing No. 2 doubles right now, Wood said about Demby. I look forward to watching her play throughout the year.
Lady Panthers Mary Wright and Jessica Quinonez were downed 5-7, 3-6 by Emma Hagen and Anna Wright at No. 3. The No. 4 doubles match saw Stephanie Bowles and Kit Hackett come out on top for Durango (1-0), 7-5, 6-3, over Amanda Haukeness and Jaci Veach.
Kristin Parker made her debut at No. 1 singles for M-CHS (0-1) and was shutout 0-6, 0-6 by Eva Lou Edwards.
Sadee Threlkeld had a strong day in the No. 2 match but came up short. She was bettered 5-7, 3-6 by Erin Neele.
Abby Pickens, a senior, fell 3-6, 0-6 to Lady Demon Ellen Southworth.
Im encouraged, Wood said. I didnt see anybody quit today. I saw everybody try really hard all the way through, even though they were not having their best games. Im looking forward to it (the rest of the season).
M-CHS will stay in 5A/4A Region-8 play against Grand Junction and Grand Junction Central on March 30-31 at the Jim Harkendorff Tennis courts at 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.