Warrior girls tennis team has another solid showing

The Del Norte High girls tennis team had another solid showing on the courts, defeating Northcoast Prep 5-4 at home Saturday to improve to 2-0 for the year.

“Overall, we all played well and stepped up our match play,”  Del Norte head coach Sara Miller said. “I’m happy with our first-week results.”

Last Tuesday at home, the Warriors downed Arcata 6-3 to open the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference season.

In No. 1 singles play on Saturday, Del Norte senior Kathryn Gustafson downed Hannah Puttre 6-3, 6-2.

“I thought Kathryn played well,” Miller said. “She started off the match trying to take riskier shots and lost some points but then in the second set things started to work and she really started to make some fantastic shots.”

In No. 2 singles, Del Norte senior Sam Bauch fell to Carolyn Mitchell-Rice 3-6, 3-6. In No. 3 singles, Warrior freshman  Jordan Babich lost to Belinda Mitchell-Rice 3-6, 2-6.

In No 4. singles Del Norte junior Taylor Cleland defeated Xochitl Salazar 6-4, 6-2.

“Taylor had a strong showing and I thought played excellent,” Miller said. “She is going to be an asset to our team this season, giving us some key wins to help the team.”

In No. 5 singles, senior Riley Sheets of Del Norte fell to Elena O’Shea 2-6, 0-6.

In No. 6 singles, Warrior freshman Alexis Wright won 6-2,4-6, 6-1 against Tehva Castell-Riggan.

 “Alexis improves every time she plays,” Miller said. “She is a great athlete and a good listener. She is taking my advice and is really trying to apply it in her game and it showed today.”

In No. 1 doubles Gustafson and Bausch earned a 6-2, 6-3 win.

“Kathryn and Sam flowed well together in doubles and have really good chemistry,” Miller said. “They just know how to support each other.”

In No. 2 doubles, Sheet and Cleland won 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

“They stepped up their game and spirit and really started to play well together,” Miller said. “I was happy they were able to bounce back from their first set.”

In No. 3 doubles Del Norte lost in three sets.