Wildcats win nailbiters to top Rockets

CLOVIS — The close ones went Clovis High’s way, and the Wildcats pulled out a boys tennis dual victory on Tuesday at the CHS courts.

Four of the Cats’ wins came in three sets, but it was enough to post a 6-3 victory over Roswell Goddard.

Meantime, Goddard claimed a 5-4 win in the girls dual.

Other than wins by senior David Heath at No. 1 singles and junior Brandon Heath’ at No. 2, the Cats needed to go the distance to turn back the Rockets in their first dual match of the season.

“I’m pleased with the effort the boys gave, especially in singles,” said Clovis boys coach Brad Heath, who is David and Brandon’s father. “That’s the key; you’ve got to keep the fight up even when things aren’t going that well.”

The Cats won two of three in doubles before taking control by winning the top three divisions in singles, including a 7-3 third-set tiebreaker win by junior Grant Pella at No. 3.

“He had to persevere, especially after losing in doubles,” coach Heath said.

The Lady Wildcats also went 2-1 in doubles, but couldn’t hold off the Lady Rockets. Clovis’ lone singles wins were a 6-1, 6-1 decision by sophomore Ayia Alsaleh over Reagan Crenshaw at No. 3 and a 6-4, 6 -1 verdict by freshman Niliyaah Hall against Amelia McGraw at No. 5.

“The girls played hard,” Lady Cats coach Jeannette Albin said. “Some of the games could’ve gone either way, but compared to last year we’re off to a much better start.”

Albin said she was pleased with a couple of matches that didn’t go her team’s way — junior Brittney Albin, her daughter, at No. 2 and senior Kyra Ramirez at No. 1, the latter losing in three sets.

“Brittney played a really good match, even though she lost, and Kyra also had a good match,” the coach said.

A Friday duel against Rio Rancho Cleveland was postponed by CHS due to the coronavirus pandemic.