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Clean sweep for Rams tennis

PORTALES - Friday saw plenty of wind, plenty of tiebreakers and plenty of time invested at the Bill Wahlman Tennis Center.

When it was all over, the Portales High tennis teams also left the courts with a pair of wins against Moriarty.

The girls took a 9-0 victory, while the boys just squeezed out a 5-4 victory over the Pintos.

They played well considering the wind.They stuck it out and powered through.It was a tough match.

"They played well, considering the wind," Portales tennis coach Ann-Marie Bucksath said. "They stuck it out and powered through. It was a tough match."

Tyler Underhill and Jacob Roberts both had undefeated days for the Ram boys. Underhill, playing in No. 5 singles, defeated Daniel Dulce 6-3, 6-4, while Roberts topped Andreas Chavez 6-0, 6-1 in No. 6 singles.

They paired up for No. 3 singles against the same opponents, but had a tougher time. Still, they took a 4-6, 6-1, 10-4 victory.

The Rams took four of the six singles flights, with Zeke Aguirre and Bret Horton also taking two-set wins - Horton's requiring an 8-6 tiebreaker in the second set.

In girls action, Portales lost just nine games in the six singles flights, but did see some tough competition in doubles. In No. 2 doubles, Laura Blaeser and Taryn Wood survived against Shannon Mortomo and Karianna Briscoe 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 11-9.

Portales is off this week for spring break, and will visit Clovis March 18.

Clovis teams split in Goddard - The Clovis boys needed a tiebreaker in No. 3 doubles to take the advantage going into singles play, but then won five of six singles flights to take a 6-3 victory Thursday in Roswell.

"I was impressed with the integrity and gamesmanship both teams played with today," Clovis coach Brad Heath said.

In No. 1 singles, David Heath had a battle with Nico Elwell that didn't appear heading that way after a 6-2 first-set win. After Elwell took the second 6-4, both players had multiple match points in the tiebreaker third set before Heath took the 14-12 victory. He had earlier took a 6-4, 6-1 win in No. 1 doubles with Grant Palla against Ray Downs and Justin Jamway.

Brad Heath and Cade Jones needed a tiebreaker after a rough second set, but pulled out the 6-3, 1-6, 10-8 win in No. 3 doubles.

Also claiming wins for Clovis were Palla in No. 3 singles, Seth Romero in No. 4 singles and Brandon Heath in No. 5 singles.

The girls fell to Goddard 9-0. Clovis lost each match in two sets, with four singles matches including a 6-0 loss, but there were positives. Andrea Mendoza and Kylie Rose took six games in No. 3 singles, falling 2-6, 4-6 against Ally Lara and Regan Crensman.

"At all of their levels were solid players," girls coach Jeannette Albin said. "The score doesn't show some of the close games and good rallies of our players."

Clovis heads to Santa Fe this week for a six-team tournament including Capital, Santa Fe and Cleveland.

 
 
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