Clovis tennis splits with Sandia

ALBUQUERQUE — Clovis High's tennis team opened its District 2-6A season on Friday, and it was worth the wait for the boys, who beat Sandia on the road 9-0.

With all the senior singles players winning straight sets and everyone else pulling their matches out, the Wildcats began district play with a crackle.

"Great way to start the district," Clovis coach Brad Heath said. "The thing I like, even though we have seniors, they're all working hard, they're fighting for each point. They're doing really well. Some matches are tougher than others, but they played really well."

The Clovis girls didn't fare quite as well, losing 9-0 at Sandia, but it was to the No. 1 team in the state, which boasts the second- and third-ranked players in the state.

"They all played well," Heath said of the Clovis girls squad, "but we're still a young team. They didn't give up."

On the boys side, seniors Dylan Gallegos (6-0, 6-2), Keltin Lamb (6-2, 6-2), Colby Coiner (7-5, 6-1) and Tony Betts (6-4, 6-3) each posted straight-set victories.

Junior Sumito Richeson battled back to win his singles match in three sets (3-6, 6-4, 6-2), and sophomore David Heath toughed out a three-set victory (6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3)) in his singles match.

The doubles matches were pro sets played to 8, and Clovis swept those, too. Betts and Colby Coiner won 9-8 (7-5); Richeson and David Heath won 8-4; and Grant Palla and Brandon Heath also won 8-4.

Clovis' boys improved to 4-1 overall, while the girls dropped to 1-4. They all remain in Albuquerque today for a 10 a.m. match against Manzano.

"Hopefully," Coach Heath said, "we have a really good chance with both of the teams."