Lady Panthers tennis wins 3 of 4

The Montezuma-Cortez High School girls tennis team placed second at Delta High School last week.

As a team, M-CHS won 3 of 4 matches and 22 of 28 matches individually at the Delta County tournament.

The Lady Panthers beat Paonia, Cedaredge and Hotchkiss, before losing a heartbreaker to host Delta. M-CHS is now 3-4 overall and 3-2 in Region 8 play.

M-CHS coach Dan Wood feels his team has rebounded well after a tough start to the season.

“We demonstrated confidence under pressure, winning eight tiebreakers to win both singles and doubles matches in crucial situations,” he said.

Kristin Parker won all four of her No. 1 singles matches, including two very tough tiebreakers against Hotchkiss and Delta.

“She never gave up, despite very strong play from her opponents,” Wood said.

Emily Walck and Charley Stewart also went 4-0 at No. 1 doubles. The duo had dramatic come-from-behind wins over Hotchkiss, Paonia and Delta.

At No. 2 doubles, Mary Wright and Jessica Quinonez continued their excellent play, easily beating Hotckiss, 6-1, 6-1, and pulling out narrow victories over Paonia, 7-5, 6-4, and Cedaredge, 7-5, 6-0. They lost to Delta in a very good tiebreaker playoff, 4-10.

Jaci Veach and Amanda haukeness went 3-1 at No. 3 doubles. They had an impressive win against Delta, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.

“The tiebreaker was especially though, because it was in front of the home crowd, and many parents and players,” Wood said.

Raena Concklin and Samantha Woyewodzic beat the Paonia and Cedaredge No. 4 doubles teams, before losing to Hotchkiss and Dela.

In other singles action, Sadee Threlkeld went 3-1 at No. 2s with wins over Hotchkiss, Paonia and Cedaredge. She lost a crushing 4-6, 2-6 match to Delta.

Nicole Demby posted a 3-1 mark at No. 3 singles as well. Her lone blemish was a 2-6, 2-6 decision to Delta.

“Nicole is just a freshman and played hard against a senior,” said Wood about Demby’s loss.

M-CHS has three matches this week beginning on Friday in Fruita against Aspen and Fruita Monument at 1 and 4 p.m. The Lady Panthers travel to Montrose on Saturday at 10 a.m.