Vail Christian girls tennis dominates the 3A Region 8 tournament

The Vail Christian girls tennis team is still on fire.

A week after defeating Peak to Peak in the quarterfinals of the team state tournament, the Saints brought their 11-0 regular season team record to Grand Junction for the 3A Region 8 individual tournament. When the Saints went 7-7 in 2022, they went 6-7 on Thursday and Friday. With the top two athletes in each division being state qualifiers, all seven Vail Christian lines punched their tickets to Colorado Springs for the state 3A individual tournament from 11-13. May.

“It’s refreshing! We are competing for a state championship,” exclaimed head coach JD Webster. “The girls have worked hard for this moment.”

In Thursday’s first-round matches, the Saints dropped just three games as No. 1 singles Summer Sveum, No. 3 singles Jessie Allen and Nos. 3 and 4 doubles all won 6-0. , 6-0. The second round of the afternoon saw a little more battle, at least in the singles department. No. 1 singles Annika Iverson probably had the stiffest test against Glenwood Springs’ top player, but she won 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the championship match. Sveum (6-4, 6-2), Allen (6-1, 6-4) and all four doubles teams followed.

On Friday, Sveum defeated Grace Brice 6-3, 6-4 and Allen won 6-3, 6-1 against No. 3 Aspen. Iverson fell 6-2, 6-2 in singles. in the final of sailors Lucia del Haya, but was positive after the weekend show.

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“I’m so proud of our whole team,” the senior captain said. “They have made my last year so much fun and I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Juliet Studness and Anna Baker crushed Steamboat’s No. 1 doubles title 6-3, 6-0. Webster and Kamryn Mitchell beat Sailors No. 2 team 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1.

“I really couldn’t be happier with the results this week,” Webster stated. “Our team and all of our competition created an electric environment that was just fun to be a part of, and that made it an even sweeter win for us.”

In the third doubles championship, Jenna Elalayli and Sofie Brunner won 6-0, 6-0 for the third straight match to complete their perfect weekend. Heidi Iverson and Sofia Elalayli completed the scorecard with a 6-4, 6-0 victory for the 4th doubles title.

“It has been a real pleasure to watch our players compete,” said Eric Meyer, Homestead Court Club tennis professional. “Every time they face better competition or face a little adversity, they just pick themselves up and compete at a higher level. Above all, they’ve approached their success with great humility and sportsmanship.

While the 3A individual state tournaments begin next weekend, Vail Christian has other community things to do before then. If the No. 5 Saints can defeat the No. 1 Saint Family on May 9 in the team state tournament, they advance to the state team championship on May 16 in Denver. Varsity coach Erica Studness believes the team is battle-tested enough after last week’s games.

“The competition was great and (it was) a good way to prepare for states next week,” he said. “We don’t have anyone out of our league, we’re involved in everything.”

“We’re such a strong team,” Iverson added. “I’m excited that we all get to go to states and cheer each other on.”

After impressive regional performances, Webster believes the hot streak won’t be going away anytime soon.

“It’s safe to say we’re all ready to keep up the momentum and streak we’ve been on through states,” he said.