Special to KRTN Multi-Media
Raton Tigers v Taos Tigers Tennis
Raton Tiger Tennis team traveled to Taos on Monday April 2nd to take on the like named Tigers in what has been some great match ups over the past few years except for last year when the Raton Lady Tigers blanked Taos 9-0.
This year would prove to be more competitive as a very young Raton Tiger team headed into the match with very little game experience in positions four-six.
The match started with #1 Autumn Archuleta easily defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-2. Positions four-six all proceeded to lose their matches which left Raton down 3-1.
#2 Lijah Medina battled through two set tie breaks and was able to defeat her opponent 7-6, 7-6 which left the #3 position Alejandra the sole singles match-up to be determined. In what was a 2.5 hour match, conditioning played a big part as Alejandra Murcia fought through split sets to take the deciding third set 6-3, which had the singles match tied at three apiece.
Doubles began with the #3 doubles team dropping two sets to the Taos Tigers and losing that match. The #1 doubles team of Autumn Archuleta and Brooke Fleming started off slow by dropping set one 2-6, only to come back and find a rhythm in the second set and return the favor winning it 6-2. As darkness crept upon the courts an eight point tie breaking third set was played where Archuleta and Fleming finished off the match winning it 8-3 and evening out the contest 3-3.
The deciding match was still being played as #2 Doubles of Lijah Medina and Alejandra Murcia took the first set 6-3. They had a rough go on the start of the second set dropping the first three games and going down 0-3. At this point the tournament director called the match due to darkness which left the match at 3-3 with Raton up 1 set in the deciding match. The young players of Raton all had an opportunity to play matches which was sorely needed as it turned out to be a great day for the Raton Tigers.
Not to forget the lone male on the team Colton Vosburg who is in his second year of tennis was able to play two matches in which he dropped both matches in two sets but even from the start of the first match to the end of the second he was making noticeable improvement.
