BERTHOUD — Mountain View girls tennis had already clinched its dual against Berthoud on Thursday at Berthoud High School, but an epic battle was still going on at No. 2 singles between Mountain Lions junior Emma Swank and Spartans junior Amelia Major.
After Mountain View went up 4-2 following a three-set victory at 2 doubles, Swank and Major were the final varsity players on the courts. The two split their first two sets, and Major eventually won the tiebreaker 10-8 to make the dual score 4-3.
Swank won the first set 7-5 before Major rebounded to take the second 6-3. In a laborious tiebreaker for both players, Major pulled out the victory.
“At the very beginning, it was really cool, so it was kind of hard to get warmed up and in my game,” Major said. “I think I was down three or two, and then I finally started getting good. I still lost that one, but I was proud that I got it to five and then she won 5-7. Then, after that, I felt like I really let myself loose. I started being more confident in my shots because that’s what I was scared of.
“Then, the tiebreaker, that one felt a little more natural to me since all my matches have had tiebreakers. So, I just had to remember to stay out of my head because I really get in my head a lot. I had to keep that score even, and even if she got ahead I had to remember that I can always get back.”
Major played mostly doubles last year and has transitioned to singles full-time this season. She went 5-5 in duals this year.
Making the adjustment to singles this season wasn’t an easy one, she said. But going into next week’s Class 3A Region 5 tournament, she has won three of her past four dual matches.
“It’s actually been kind of hard for me, especially because I’m used to having that support system in my doubles partner,” she said. “This year, I’ve just had myself and all my mental thoughts. It’s been really hard that way along with a shorter court. It’s been pretty tough, but I like it.”
While Major won at 2 singles, Mountain View won the other two singles matches in the dual. Yuki Chen defeated Sophia Low at 3 singles, 7-5, 6-0, and Rebecca Napolitano defeated Sydney Wolf, 6-1, 6-0 at 1 singles.
Napolitano, a three-time state qualifier, will look to punch her fourth and final ticket to the 4A state tournament at next week’s Region 4 tournament. She is 11-2 this season, with her only losses coming in the semifinals of the Greeley West tournament and in the Mountain Lions’ dual with Severance.
“It’s my senior season, so I’m enjoying it,” Napolitano said. “I got sick a couple of weeks ago, so I’ve just been focusing on getting my fitness back and feeling good. Today, I felt very good. I’ve been working on my fitness a lot and then just being more aggressive when I play.”
Coming off a season in which she went undefeated until the state tournament, won a regional title and went 1-2 at state in Pueblo, she believes she is better than she was last year.
The Spartans and Mountain Lions split the doubles matches, with Mountain View winning at 1s and 2s and Berthoud winning at 3s and 4s.
Both teams will look to qualify lines to the state tournament next week. Mountain View will join Loveland and Thompson Valley at the 4A Region 4 tournament beginning Wednesday at North Lake Park and concluding Thursday at Mehaffey Park. Berthoud will play in the 3A Region 5 tournament at Dawson School on Thursday and Friday.
Napolitano is focused on winning a second regional title and that final state bid.
“I’m definitely just trying to stay focused and keep working so that I’m ready for that day and I don’t underestimate anyone I play,” she said.
TV falls in first round of team tournament
Thompson Valley lost to Grand Junction, 5-2, in the first round of the Class 4A state team tournament Wednesday.
The Eagles were the No. 11 seed and making their third appearance in the tournament in the four years it has been a CHSAA event. Grand Junction was the No. 6 seed and advanced to face No. 3 Mullen in the quarterfinals.
Thompson Valley’s two victories in the dual came at 2 singles and 1 doubles. At 2 singles, Maddie Wilcken defeated Grand Junction’s Grace DeHerrera, 6-3, 6-0. In 1 doubles, Penny Gilbert and Payton Reichelderfer defeated Grand Junction’s Maddy Boyer and Piper Hall, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
The Eagles will join Loveland and Mountain View next week at the 4A Region 4 tournament.
RCS takes third at Patriot League tourney
Resurrection Christian finished third as a team at the Patriot League tournament Monday in Greeley.
The Cougars ended up with 43 points. Eaton won the team title with 88 points and Wellington was second with 60.
RCS’ lone league champion came at 1 singles, where sophomore Kylee Mayes defeated Dawson School’s Olivia Kirby, 6-3, 6-2, in the final. At 2 singles, RCS junior Ryan Siffring lost to Wellington’s Emma Moore in the final, 6-3, 6-4.
At 3 singles, RCS junior Gabi Kellog lost in the semifinals to Eaton’s Harley Forster, 6-4, 7-5. At 2 doubles, RCS’ team of Brooklyn Diepersloot and Tatum Highstreet lost in the semifinals to Eaton’s Evelyn South and Aya Kinoshita, 6-1, 6-2.
The Cougars’ other two doubles lines lost in the first round.
RCS will next play at the 3A Region 4 tournament next Wednesday and Thursday at Eaton High School.
