The Lady Pirates Tennis Team became district champions on Friday by defeating the Belen Eagles 7-2. It is the first district championship for Lady Pirate Tennis since 2002. According to Coach Rychener, “We are a resilient team because we have so much depth!” In tennis only the top 6 players score for the team with 6 singles and 3 doubles matches. That depth has put the Lady Pirates over the top all season, except for a loss to 5A powerhouse Farmington High.
At Belen, the Lady Pirates #2 doubles team of Alexia Munson & Karsyn Cash defeated their opponents 6-0 and 6-0. The #3 doubles team of Annaliesa Lowther & Abriyah Urioste won with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. The #1 doubles team of Chloe Rychener and Kylette Garcia were defeated by a score of 0-6, 6-4, 3-6. In singles, #2 Kylette Garcia lost by a score of 0-6 and 3-6. #3 Alexia Munson won by a score of 6-0 and 6-1. #4 Karsyn Cash dispatched her opponent with a score of 6-0 and 6-0. #5 Abriyah Urioste won with a score of 6-0 and 6-3. #6 Annaliesa Lowther was able to defeat her opponent from Belen with a score of 6-1 and 6-0.
The most interesting match of the day involved #1 Chloe Rychener, who had yet to lose a district singles match. Her opponent came out swinging and it took a while for Rychener to recover. She found herself losing the first set 2-6. In the second set, the Senior found her stride and was able to mount a response, winning 6-4. In the third and final set, Rychener turned up the heat defeating her opponent 6-0. After her comeback win, the Pirate Senior said, “What a way to end my senior year, undefeated.”
Other members of the Lady Pirates Tennis Team include Madison Salazar, Kylee Sandoval, Ameila Torres, Maya Yates, and Serena Antonio. The team will continue down the road to State at Jerry Cline Tennis Facility this Friday and Saturday for individual achievement in singles and doubles. During the first week of May, the girls’ team will play for district 4A team State Championship.