Brynlee Shults and Brooklynn Whitaker prepare for another set during a doubles match against Sparks.
Fallon’s doubles tennis teams traveled to Las Vegas for the state tournament Friday, but only made it to the quarterfinals before elimination.
Both teams entered the tournament as No. 2 from the north, to play the No. 3 team from the south. Brooklynn Whitaker and Brynlee Shults played Desert Pines, losing 4-6 in the first set and 1-6 in the second. Miles Getto and Blake Malkovich lost 1-6, 1-6 to The Meadows.
“All our players had high spirits with the intention of coming out to do their very best and enjoy the experience,” said Fallon coach Kristy Bekiares.
Bekiares noted Shults and Whitaker came out strong in their first match, but lost momentum in the second round. She said Getto and Malkovich also played well, getting some great rallies.
The coach said the biggest obstacle Fallon faced was playing all southern teams, rather than a mix of north and south. She noted the style of the Southern Nevada teams, as well as their technique and level of play is different from what they are used to.
“We could definitely benefit from some exhibition tournaments before entering regular season,” she said.
Three of the four doubles players graduate this spring — Shults, Getto and Malkovich. Bekiares said they will be missed and they all had optimistic, fiercely competitive attitudes. She added they have all been great role models for the other members of the team.
The coach also said she has big hopes for Whitaker, a sophomore, in the coming years. She said they will have to find another ideal partner for Whitaker if she decides to continue playing doubles.
While the tennis season is over, Bekiares is already looking toward next year. She said she plans to start off-season workouts as soon as spring rolls in. She hopes to grow the program and encourage playing tennis around the community.