Tennis Tigers struggle vs. Columbia

The Tigers varsity tennis squad found the competition tough as the team hit the courts for its first home team match against Columbia before facing Jerome.

Tiger boys 1, Columbia boys 6,

Tiger girls 0, Columbia girls 7

During its season debut March 8, the Tiger boys lost, 1-6, with the only win coming in three sets by second singles player Eddie Guadarrama, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. All the individual matches were very competitive with Miguel Pelletier trailing, 2-6, 3-6, while Owen Ostberg went down, 3-6, 0-6. In boys' doubles, Abram Martin and Jean Gilliland lost, 1-6, 2-6, while Seth West and Jordan Klein-Walden fell, 1-6, 0-6.

In girls' singles play, Rhyan Kelley lost, 1-6, 0-6, while Rebecca Martin went down, 2-6, 0-6. Caitlyn Whitfield came close in three sets but lost in a second set tiebreaker, 4-6, 6-7, 6-8.

Both of Mountain Home's girls doubles teams lost with Anyssa Garza and Tayde Rodriguez and second Vanessa Sabol and Erica Martinez being blanked, 0-6, 0-6. The mixed doubles teams lost as well with Brandon Hultenius and Natalie Moyett and Antonio Pedroza and Adrie Blanksma, both being blanked, 0-6, 0-6.

Tiger boys 2, Jerome boys 5

Tiger girls 4, Jerome girls 3

On Friday, Tigers traveled to the courts at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls where they played Jerome under the lights.

In boys' singles, Miguel Pelletier lost a tough battle, 0-6, 3-6, while Anthony DeSantis came close by going three sets but lost in a second set tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-7, 4-7. Alex Buchholz lost a back-and-forth battle, 3-6, 3-6.

Boys' doubles action came close to three sets at first with Eddie Gaudarrama and Jean Gilliland losing, 1-6, 6-7, 0-7, while Luis Pedroza and Seth West fell, 1-6, 2-6.

The two points for the boys' team and two of the four for the girls' team came from the mixed doubles matches. Brandon Hultenius and Simone Aguero won in two sets 7-6, 7-3, 6-1, while Mateo Pelletier and Alaina Groom won in a third set match tiebreaker, 6-3, 4-6, 10-5.

The girls' team added two more team points to the mix wins with Rebecca Martin and Tayde Rodriguez winning their matches, 6-2, 6-4 and 6-0, 6-0 respectively. first Rhyan Kelley lost her match 0-6, 1-6. In girls' doubles, first Cassie Dearing and Caitlyn Whitfield lost 5-7, 2-6 while second Vanessa Sabol and Erica Martinez lost 4-6, 3-6.

This year, the Tigers tennis team hit the courts with 42 players. including 15 returning letter winners.

"Tiger Tennis is a 'no-cut' program," said Coach Tamzy House, who started her 12th year as the team's head coach. "All skill levels are welcome -- they play either varsity or JV. They learn the fundamentals of tennis and experience the fun of match play and team participation.

"Hopefully, when they leave high school, they will have gotten the 'tennis bug," and they will want to play the sport for the rest of their lives," House added.

For the 2017 season, the boys' team captain is Miguel Pelletier, a senior and a four-year player. Meanwhile, Rhyan Kelley serves as the girls' team captain. Both varsity teams have strength and experience in singles and doubles and will give tough competition to their opponents, House said.

The Tigers tennis team hits the courts this coming week with a home match against Skyview on Tuesday followed by an away match at Bishop Kelly on Thursday, March 16.