Tigers tennis loses to CA

DENVER — Missing a pair of varsity doubles players to a band competition, the Summit High School tennis team’s perfect season ended in match No. 2 on Monday afternoon.

The Tigers lost 5-2 to host Colorado Academy, getting wins from only their top two singles players, Sutton Anderson and Carly Walsh. Anderson put forth a dominating performance to blank Katie Cassin 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 1 singles position, and Walsh came back from a 1-5 deficit in the second set to defeat Christina Bradley 6-4, 7-5.

Other than that, no Summit representative won a set and the Tigers (1-1) lost to the traditionally powerful Mustangs as has become expected when the two teams meet. But the day was far from a negative in the opinion of SHS coach Rae Anderson.

“I think that’s the best we’ve ever done against Colorado Academy,” Anderson said. “I think it’s usually 0-7.”

The absence of Megan Hollenbeck and Tiana Shelton to a previous commitment hurt Summit’s chances of upsetting CA after last week’s dramatic, season-opening win over Bishop Machebeuf. Hollenbeck plays on the No. 1 doubles pair, while Shelton is a member of Summit’s No. 3 doubles team.

“Had we had those two girls, I think we would’ve won,” Rae Anderson said. “It’s just a shame.”

Alex Critz-Culp lost 3-6, 4-6 at No. 3 singles, while Summit’s doubles pairings looked slightly different than usual in the absence of the two regulars.

Kali Turrin and Megan Hartman lost 3-6, 4-6 at No. 1; Mandy Miles and Tessa Manton dropped their No. 2 doubles match 2-6, 3-6; at No. 3 Cissy Daniels and Kimmy Baker lost 1-6, 0-6; and Jodi Houghtaling and Holly Westwood fell by the same score as Daniels and Baker at No. 4 doubles.

Summit’s next competition comes Tuesday at Ralston Valley.

Devon O’Neil can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13630, or at doneil@summitdaily.com.