NMMI’s Megan Lynch with the serve in her match against Santa Fe High’s Dakota Haraden.
Karen Boehler
NMMI Sports Press
Luis Fontes with the volley during an approach to the net.
The Colt tennis teams opened the season at an early tournament Friday, and while the boys couldn’t get a win vs. 6A Santa Fe — despite a number of close, three-set matches — they swept the host Rockets on the first day of the Goddard Invitational, played on both the Rocket and Gene Hardman tennis courts at NMMI.
“I think we did really well today,” said coach Will Cavin. “When you look at the scores, we should have won our doubles matches, our No. 1 and 2 doubles matches, against Santa Fe. I can’t say I’m disappointed with that, but I think we should have won that.”
Sebastian Aguirre come up to return a short shot by his opponent from Santa Fe High.
With three of the top seven Colts not in the lineup, others had to step up.
Francisco Saracho, who should be No. 2, still got a 7-5, 6-7, 10-2 win vs. Sonam Phuntsog at No. 1 singles. Luis Fontes Plascencia, normally at No. 4, played No. 2, winning 6-2, 6-3 and No. 4 Felix Higuera Rodriguez won 4-6, 6-1, 12-10.
In doubles, the No. 3 team of Ongay Campuzano and Sebastian Aguirre Russek won 6-3, 7-6, 10-6, but No. 1 Saracha and Fontes lost their match 7-6, 6-2 and Spencer Treat and Higuera lost 2-6, 6-3, 8-10 at No. 2.
JinXiu Dong forehand return during her singles match against Santa Fe.
On the girls side, Megan Lynch swept by both her opponents. She topped Lady Demon Dakota Haraden 6-0, 6-0 and Lady Rocket Brittann Maidment 6-1, 6-1.
With JinXiu Dong at No. 1 doubles, the pair swept their opponents 6-0, 6-0 (Santa Fe) and the Goddard duo of Maidment and Noor Osmani by a tougher 6-3, 3-6, 11-9.
While the rest of the Lady Colts lost, Cavin was happy with how they performed.
First serve attempt by Claudia Gerhardus against her opponent from Santa Fe High.
“The girls got a lot of experience today,” he said.” I think they showed improvement. I was happy with the progress the girls made because a lot of them are just really starting their tennis careers. So I think they competed and did well considering. They’ve got a lot of room to grow, but they’re growing, so that’s a good thing.”
Both teams start play Saturday at 8:15 a.m., then get several weeks to tune up before getting back on the courts at the Coyote Classic, which isn’t until March 4-5.
Spencer Treat baseline forehand.
“I think tomorrow’s boys match with St. Mike’s will be a good match, and I just look forward to getting a couple of players back and seeing what we do in the middle of March,” Cavin said.
Results:
Boys
Santa Fe 5, NMMI 4
Singles
No. 1, Francisco Saracho, NMMI, def. Sonam Phuntsog, SF, 7-5, 6-7 10-2
No. 2, Luis Fontes Plascencia, NMMI, def. Edward Medina, SF, 6-2, 6-3
No. 3, Isaiah Wilder, SF, def. Spencer Treat, NMMI, 6-2, 7-5
No. 4, Felix Higuera Rodriguez, NMMI, def. Jorge Antuna, SF, 4-6, 6-1, 12-10
No. 5, Joaquin Carretero, SF, def. Ignacio Ongay Campuzano, NMMI, 6-4, 6-1
No. 6, Curtis Althaus, SF, def. Sebastian Aguirre Russek, NMMI, 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1, Phuntsog/Antuna, SF, def. Saracha/Fontes, NMMI, 7-6, 6-2
No. 2, Medina/Wilder, SF, def. Treat/Higuera, NMMI, 6-2, 3-6, 10-8
No. 3, Ongay/Aguirre, NMMI, def. Althaus/Sanchez, SF, 6-3, 7-6, 10-6
NMMI 8, Goddard 0
Singles
No. 1, Francisco Saracho, NMMI, def.Matt Elwell, GHS, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2, Luis Fontes Plascencia, NMMI, def. Leo Melendez, GHA, 6-2, 6-4
No. 3, Spencer Treat, NMMI, def. Marc Nava, GHS, 6-3, 6-1
No. 4, Felix Higuera Rodriguez, NMMI, def. Cam Kennon, 6-0, 6-1
No. 5, Ignacio Ongay Campuzano, NMMI, def. Chris Brooks, GHS, 6-0, 6-0
No. 6, Sebastian Aguirre Russek, NMMI, def. Glenn Cunnigham, GHS, 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1, Saracha/Fontes, NMMI, def. Elwell/Melendez, GHS, 6-1, 6-1
No. 2, Treat/Higuera, NMMI, def. Nava/Kennon, GHS, 6-1, 6-1
Girls
Santa Fe 7, NMMI 2
Singles
No. 1, Megan Lynch, NMMI, def. Dakota Haraden, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2, Alyssa Peralta, SF, def. JinXiu Dong, NMMI, 6-3, 6-3
No. 3, Lily Farr, SF, def. Sofia Brassea Flores, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
No. 4, Tara Varnum, SF, def. Claudia Gerhardus Blancarte, NMMI, 6-0, 6-1
No. 5, Megan Varnum, SF, def. Savannah Lee, NMMI, 6-1, 6-1
No. 6, Dani Britt, SF, def. Miranda Nepip, 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1, Lynch/Dong, NMMI, def. Haraden/Farr, SF, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2, Peralta/T. Varnum, SF, def. Brassea/Gerhardus, 6-0, 6-2
No. 3, Jessie Szabat/M. Varnum, SF, def. Lee/Nepip, NMMI, 6-1, 6-0
Goddard 7, NMMI 2
Singles
No. 1, Megan Lynch, NMMI, def. Brittann Maidmeny, GHS, 6-1, 6-1
No. 2, Noor Osmani, GHS, def. JinXiu Dong, NMMI, 6-0, 6-3
No. 3, Alex Carsario, GHS, def. Sofia Brassea Flores, NMMI, 6-1, 6-0
No. 4, Tati Villa, GHS, def. Claudia Gerhardus Blancarte, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
No. 5, LIzzy Latimer, GHS, def. Savannah Lee, NMMI, 6-2, 6-1
No. 6, Sian Cordero, GHS, def. Miranda Nepip, 6-0, 4-6, 10-5
Doubles
No. 1, Lynch/Dong, NMMI, def. Maidmant/Osmani, GHS, 6-3, 3-6, 11-9
No. 2, Casario/Villa, GHS, def. Brassea/Gerhardus, 6-2, 6-0
No. 3, Latimer/Cordero, GHS, def. Lee/Nepip, NMMI, 6-4, 6-4
