Marble Falls tennis beats Belton New Tech

CAPTION: The 2025 Marble Falls High School team tennis squad is Adelina Flores (front row, left), Caylie Garay, Victoria Nunez, Gracey Moffett, Sophia Trudeau, Cooper Womack, William Gregory, Shaymus Vaughn, Savannah Hamblin, Jacey Moffett, Harper Cook, Chloe Taylor, Nevaeh Nelson (Montoya); Hudson Dehorty (back row, left), Jared Smith, Logan Hargraves, Glenn Banton, Cooper Kelley, Jonathan Leflet, Nicolas Smith, Sean Smith, Adam Beaston, Knox Elder, Payton Glaser, Chloe Brown, Ben Sowers. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School team tennis squad swept Belton New Tech 19-0 Sept. 4 to remain unbeaten in District 25-4A play.

It was a battle of undefeated teams in district play.

“We were focused, intense and took care of business,” head coach Samuel Whitley said.

Indeed. In addition to Marble Falls (4-0) winning every match, the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs won all their matches in straight sets. That’s 38 sets won. Only one went to a tiebreaker.

Whitley noted some Mustangs decided to work on other parts of their individual game in an effort to improve in all areas.

“Payton Glaser worked on serve and volley,” the coach said. “He’d been working on it in practice, but it’s better when you can do it during a game. He went out with intensity and focus and took care of business.”

While senior Cooper Womack remains the team’s top player, Whitley noted his teammates are improving at a rapid rate. That’s because of the challenge matches Whitley and assistant coach Nathan Redman conduct each week. Players must compete against their teammates to keep their spots on the team to play in the district matches each Thursday.

“Our numbers two through six players are closing the gap,” the coach said. “We have freshmen and sophomores who are closing the sixth spot. We’ve been playing more up than down on a weekly basis. We have a strong team because coaches have been pitting the best players. We are a strong 10 deep. In high school tennis, my No. 8 can beat your No. 8. We have a lot of kids and a lot of depth.”

Marble Falls welcomes Little River Academy (5-0) at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11.

“Academy is beating everybody 19-0,” Whitley said. “It’ll be very difficult, very competitive. This is for sole possession of first place.”

RESULTS

BOYS

Singles

Womack def. Moore 6-0, 6-0; Kelley def. Kimball 6-1, 6-1; Glaser def. McPike 6-3, 6-2; N. Smith def. Clay 6-1, 6-2; T. Banton def. Long 6-2, 6-0; J. Smith def. Catteron 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)

Doubles

Womack and Kelley def. Moore and Kimball 6-2, 6-2; N. Smith and Glaser def. Finn and Long 6-0, 6-0; S. Smith and Banton def. Catterton and Lopez 6-1, 6-2

GIRLS

Singles

Nelson def. McKenzie 6-3, 6-2; Trudeau def. Ferniza 6-0, 6-0; Taylor def. Montez 6-1, 6-2; Brown def. Delgado 6-1, 6-0; Hernandez def. Boettger 6-1, 6-0; Morales def. T. Clay 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

Nelson and Trudeau def. Ferniza and Delgado 6-1, 6-1; Brown and Morales def. Boettger and T. Clay 6-0, 6-0; Taylor and Hernandez def. Franklin and Cook 6-0, 6-0;

MIXED DOUBLES

Hargraves and Hamblin def. McPike and Mckenzie 6-2, 6-2