Let's face it, there's no secret that Tuesday's season opener for the Galena and Carson High girls tennis teams was going to be a mismatch.
Galena has established itself as one of the state's top teams. Based on Galena's 21-1.5 win Tuesday, it looks like nothing has changed.
But Carson also showed signs of being an up and coming team that could be a force in the next couple of years. At least that's the way Galena coach Zachary Gross saw it.
"Carson is young, but they've got kids who can play and they're certainly well-coached," Gross said. "I saw a lot of scary things from Carson.
"They've got good fundamentals. Give them a year or two and they'll be up there with the top teams."
Carson's only win came in doubles where Michelle Van Epps and Staci Cobler won 6-4. Cobler and Van Epps also gave Galena's No. 1 team of Rachel Forbes and Laura Deitch all it could handle before falling 4-6.
"They're going to help us throughout the season," Carson coach Diane Baker said. "They're going to be playing all the time. There's a spot for them in our lineup."
Carson also had several other encouraging efforts in losses. In singles, Carson's Natalie Rogers lost to Meghan Fisher 3-6 and the Senators' Kelsey Joyce lost to Suzanna Atherton 4-6.
In her match against Atherton, Rogers fought back from a 2-5 deficit. She got back on serve with a break to pull with 4-5. But Atherton broke back for the match, winning with a forehand serve return winner on match point.
In doubles, Janae Jeppson and Aaren Porteur had an encouraging effort in a 3-6 loss.
Galena is led by Julie Bargarello in singles, who swept to 6-1, 6-0, 6-0 wins on Tuesday.
"She's an exceptional player," Gross said. "Obviously she's well-experienced."
Fisher and Atherton also swept in singles, with Fisher also winning 6-2, 6-0 and Atherton winning her other match 6-0.
In doubles, Forbes and Deitch swept, also winning 6-1, 6-2.
"This was kind of a makeshift lineup," Gross said. "The kids played well, especially with the windy conditions."
Baker also said her team adjusted well to the wind. "I knew they would be tough," said Baker about Galena. "I just didn't know they were that deep. Playing better players is only going to make you better."
Gross said he's been most proud of how his team has come together so quickly. "That's probably our biggest strength more than anything else," he said.
GALENA BOYS 15.5, CARSON 7
Carson's boys also had an encouraging performance as it was able to win seven points against Northern Nevada power Galena. Josh Brekken won two matches in singles and Andrew Araza and John McDonald won two matches in doubles for Carson.
Also in singles, Tim Suchland won one match and Nick Weeks won 7-6 in a tiebreaker.
"They realize it's a good measuring stick," said Carson coach Pat Houlihan about his players facing Galena. "Overall, Galena was a much stronger team.
"I felt we did what I thought we would do. I think we're going to be a good team."