Tough start for NHS girls tennis

The Niwot High School girls varsity tennis team started the season with a couple losses last week to Fairview High School (4-3) and Valor Christian High School (6-1). While that may be a tough way to begin the year, the matches were closer than last year when the Cougars were defeated 7-0 by both teams.

"We're better than last year," said Coach Aimee Hites, "We have more depth." Last year, Valor Christian lost to Fairview in the Class 5A state team semi-finals, and Fairview lost in the finals to finish second in Class 5A, one class up from the Class 4A Cougars.

In moving up to #1 singles from the #2 position last year, sophomore Sahasra Kolli lost her Fairview match 6-3, 6-4 and unfortunately, had to retire from her match against Valor Christian early in the first set.

Tracy Yu got double bageled 6-0, 6-0 in her #2 singles match against Fairview, but in keeping with her competitive spirit came back to trounce her Valor Christian opponent 6-1, 6-1.

Cassie Chen won her match in a convincing fashion 6-2, 6-3 against Fairview's #3 singles player and then came up short against Valor Christian 6-0, 6-3. Coming back to make the second set competitive is an example of her competitive focus.

Samantha Zachy and Anne Haley lost their #1 doubles match to Fairview by a score of 6-1, 6-2 and faced strong competition again in their loss to Valor Christian 6-1, 6-1.

At #2 doubles, Harper Behmer and Masha Oshmyan played and won a very close match against Fairview. It went three sets with the Cougars pulling it out 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 1-0 (10-8). The 1-0 (10-8) score in the third is in keeping with third sets moving straight tiebreaker scoring versus game-based sets. Against Valor Christian, Behmar teamed up with Sarada Gundavarapu but lost, 6-0, 6-0.

After a close first set and a loss in the second, Caitlyn Carmichael and Magnolia Valentine knocked off Fairview's #3 doubles in three sets 7-5, 0-6, 1-0 (10-8). They weren't able to continue their winning streak against Valor Christian, losing 6-2, 6-0.

Playing #4 doubles, Hannah Nelson and Jordyn Rutkowski lost a close 3-set match to Fairview 4-6, 6-4, 0-1 (6-10) and then lost in two sets to Valor Christian 7-5, 6-1.

The Cougars played Skyline High School March 12, but the results were not available at press time.