Monday afternoon, the Valor Christian tennis team took on the defending 4A state champions, the Cheyenne Mountain Indians, at Valor at 3:30 pm. Even though the Eagles came away with a disappointing 5-2 loss it was still an improvement from their performance against the Indians last year, which ended in a 7-0 loss.
Valor Christian’s head coach Bill Epping commented on this years defeat saying, “In our toughest test of the season the boys really stepped up and played the defending state champs well.” Both wins came from the Eagles 1 and 2 singles players, Erik Ratkelis and Jimmy Amundson. 3 Singles, Drake Bailey, battled hard but only came away with a 4-6, 3-6 loss to Will Geisz of Cheyenne Mountain.
Also notable, 1 doubles team of Michael Pistilli and Daniel Stephan lost in a heartbreaking 3 set match 6-0, 6-7, 7-10. The Eagles are still hopeful for the rest of their season as they prepare for next weeks loaded schedule as they play four different teams including 2 regional rivals.
Scores
1s: Erik Ratkelis def. Austin Hampton 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
2s: Jimmy Amundson def. Robbie Boe 7-5, 6-2
3s: Will Geisz def. Drake Bailey 6-4, 6-3
1D: Sessions & Connaughton def. Pistilli & Stephan 0-6, 7-6, 10-7 (t)
2D: Choe & Teo def. Case & Farmer 6-2, 6-3
3D: Moody & Ruppert def. Ratkelis & Lorden 6-2, 6-2
4D: Adams & Clancy def. Wynja & Hurtle 6-0, 6-0