Sedona Red Rock High School’s girls tennis players made quick work of Anthem Preparatory Academy, sweeping the Eagles, 9-0, Tuesday, March 29, in their sectional home opener.

“That was a big one,” head coach Claudette Laliberte said. “It was a really big confidence booster.”

The Scorpions [3-4], who did not lose a single set for the third straight win, allowed no more than five points in any set.

“They’re really getting stronger, more confident — just improving with every match they play,” Laliberte said. “They’re chasing more balls and getting more patient when hitting their shots.

“Their understanding of the game is getting sharper: They’re becoming more total players as the season goes along.”

SRRHS earned two team points by default, as the Eagles had neither a No. 3 doubles entry nor a No. 6 singles entry to face sophomore Erandi Mojica.

But the top doubles team of twins Sarah and Sophia Hermosillo teamed up for an 8-4 win after not allowing a point in their second singles sets.

Sophia Hermosillo won, 6-4, 6-0, over No. 1 player Madelyn Baer, while fellow senior Sarah was even more dominant in her 6-1, 6-0 victory over Mae Symmonds.

“Sarah and Sophia have played three years together,” Laliberte said. “They’re the ones that have the most experience on the team. I believe in them.”

Junior Fernanda Valencia teamed up with senior Denise McClendon to also shut out the second Eagles doubles team, 8-0.

“They played extremely well,” Laliberte said. “They just played together more and had very good concentration and focus.”

Valencia, though, also faced the greatest struggle of any Scorpion to win her match, rallying for five straight set points against Anthem Prep’s No. 3 singles player after being down, 5-2, in the first set.

“She became more focused,” Laliberte said after Valencia’s 7-5, 6-4 victory. “She’s a fighter. She doesn’t quit.”

While sophomore Sarah Lynch faced less of a challenge from No. 4 Eagle Kaylee Wong, winning 6-4, 6-1, the surprise of the season so far came from the Scorpions’ No. 5 singles match.

Junior Christina Veverita, an exchange student from Moldova, won her third straight match since earning a varsity spot following the Scorpions’ 8-1 victory March 9 at Scottsdale Christian Academy.

“Just watching her practice, she’s been winning points off our regular varsity players,” Laliberte said following Veverita’s 6-4, 6-2 win over Gabriella Garces. “So I wanted to give her more of a challenge, and she’s done it.

“She has really been a pretty bright star. She has really come along and has good mental toughness.”

Ranked No. 44 in the Arizona Interscholastic Association power rankings with five matches to play, the Scorpions are doubtful to qualify for the Division III state tournament as a team.

“There’s players that have been playing there since they were [age] 2 and have private coaches,” Laliberte said. “I’m really not thinking that far ahead.”

So Laliberte plans to take sectional play one match at a time as it continues Wednesday, April 6, at home against Peoria High School.

“Honestly, I know nothing about the other teams,” she said. “I never thought about our win-loss [record], and I haven’t even thought so much about the sections. With five matches to play, I’m just trying to develop the players.”