Marble Falls tennis sweeps Lago Vista

CAPTION: Mixed doubles partners Savannah Hamblin (left) and Logan Hargraves congratulate each other on winning a crucial point. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School team tennis squad left no doubt in beating Lago Vista 19-0 Sept. 18 in District 25-4A play to remain in second place in the standings.

“Our kids came out and dominated,” head coach Samuel Whitley said.

The only match that went to three sets was at mixed doubles. The team of Logan Hargraves and Savannah Hamblin won the first set 6-3 and lost the second 5-7. During the time between the second and third sets, coaches talked to the Mustangs to ask what changed. Hargraves pointed out the Lago Vista boy, Kinslow, “started playing well at the net.”

So they decided to “lob him at the net” to make the Vikings pay. It worked as Marble Falls took the third set, a pro set, 10-4.

“Mixed doubles was a good match,” Whitley said. “I’m extremely proud of how they took coaching strategy and applied it and won it easily. They did a fantastic job of it. Logan and Savannah took coaching very well. They went out and dominated.”

He was equally pleased with Nevaeh Nelson (Montoya) at girls No. 1 singles where she faced Maddy Inman. The Lady Mustang won the first set 6-3.

“Nevaeh had never beaten her before,” the coach said. “She went out and used strategy. She pretty much ran that girl so much that she had to retire. She got tired in the second set. Great job by Nevaeh going into this match with strategy and using it.”

Whitley pointed out the other Mustangs won every match in straight sets and most of his players didn’t lose more than three games in a set. That illustrates how far the Marble Falls program has come. Lago Vista won district titles in 2022 and 2023. Marble Falls has now beaten the Vikings in back-to-back team tennis seasons.

The Mustangs and Lady Mustangs turn their attention to Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch, the new high school that is in its second year of opening.

Whitley said while one group of Marble Falls players travels to play at Legacy Ranch Thursday, Sept. 25, while another group will face Mason. Matches are scheduled to start no later than 4:15 p.m.

CAPTION: Sophia Trudeau (left) and Nevaeh Nelson (Montoya) weren’t challenged in their match at No. 1 girls doubles. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

RESULTS

BOYS

Singles

Womack def. Garcia 6-0, 6-0; Kelley def. Velasquez 6-0, 6-0; Glaser def. Kinslow 6-2, 6-2; N. Smith def. Vasquez 6-0, 6-1; Banton def. Poe 6-0, 6-0; J. Smith def. Huey 6-2, 6-0

Doubles

Womack and Kelley def. Garcia and Velasquez 6-0, 6-1; N. Smith and Glaser def. Poe Siebenlist 6-0,6-0; Banton and S. Smith def. Bailey and Huey 6-1, 6-1

GIRLS

Singles

Nelson def. Inman 6-3, retired; Trudeau def. Richardson 6-2, 6-2; Taylor def. Huey 6-3, 6-3; Brown def. Loue 6-0, 6-2; Hernandez def. Thompson 6-2, 6-3; Morales def. Viruette 6-1, 6-2

Doubles

Nelson and Trudeau def. Richardson and Huey 6-1,6-2; Brown and Morales def. Thompson and Love 6-2, 6-1; Cook and Osloond def. Hanksins and Viruette 6-0, 6-0

MIXED DOUBLES

Hamblin and Hargraves def. Inman ad Kinslow 6-3, 5-7, 10-4