By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
The Del Rio High School tennis team came within a point of improving its position in the District 30-6A playoff race, falling to Laredo United 10-9 in a tightly contested match.
The Rams and Queens battled United through the final match, with Del Rio picking up wins in boys and girls singles as well as doubles.
“We lost 9-10 to Laredo United, a game that our kids fought through till the last point. This result puts us at 3-3 in District,” said Enrique Santillan, Del Rio boys tennis coach. “A win at Eagle Pass on Wednesday will clinch a playoff berth.”
The girls are coached by Josh Bowman.
Del Rio won three boys singles matches against United.
Senior Jayden Morin defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-2, while senior Juan Vasquez earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory. Freshman Charles Moody prevailed in one of the closest matches of the day, winning 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (4-7), 10-4.
Sophomore Luis DeLuna also pushed his match to a deciding tiebreak before falling 4-6, 6-2, 7-10. Junior Edson Martinez lost 3-6, 1-6, and senior Alejandro Horky fell 0-6, 1-6.
Del Rio picked up three wins in girls singles.
Junior Ana Perez rallied after dropping the opening set to win 5-7, 6-2, 10-8. Junior Xitlali Pereida also came from behind for a 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 victory, while sophomore Miranda Cienegas won another three-set battle, 6-4, 1-6, 11-9.
Elisa Cardenas came within two points of another Del Rio victory before falling 4-6, 6-3, 8-10. Senior Samantha Favela lost 3-6, 0-6, and sophomore Loretta Sauceda fell 6-7, 4-6.
In boys doubles, Morin and Vasquez survived a marathon match to win 6-2, 0-6, 15-13.
Horky and Martinez fell 0-6, 0-6, while Moody and junior Ethan Sanchez lost 4-6, 3-6.
Del Rio won two of its three girls doubles matches. Sauceda and Favela rolled to a 6-3, 6-0 victory, while Cardenas and Cienegas won 6-4, 6-1.
Perez and Pereida fell 1-6, 1-6.
In mixed doubles, senior Karymé Valencia and DeLuna lost 5-7, 3-6.
The result leaves Del Rio fourth in the district standings at 3-3, behind Alexander at 6-0, United South at 5-1 and United at 4-2.
Southwest Legacy and Eagle Pass are each 2-3, followed by San Antonio Southwest at 1-5 and Laredo LBJ at 0-6.
That makes Wednesday’s trip to Eagle Pass especially important. A win would guarantee Del Rio a spot in the postseason.
