First-year Sedona Red Rock High School girls tennis coach Claudette Laliberte is still searching for her team’s first singles or doubles win.
The Scorpions fell in their second straight 9-0 shutout at home Monday, Feb. 29, to rival Mingus Union High School.
Combine that loss with the boys’ 6-3 home loss Feb. 24 to open the SRRHS season against Flagstaff High School, and April 20 marks the last tennis win for either boys or girls team.
“We lost most of our top players from last year,” said Laliberte, the third girls tennis coach at SRRHS in three seasons. “We need to rebuild this year.”
With senior Peter Hoyle the only player among third-year head coach Phil Kovac’s 10 boys with postseason experience, wins will take time for both teams — especially with Kai Zimmerman, a freshman from Kazakhstan, leading doubles play so far.
Junior Kamil Khayrullin is the best singles player, however, Kovac has seen of his 10 boys.
“This year, I think we have a little better bunch of kids athletically,” Kovac said. “We’re running set drills, and their games have improved immensely.”
Although sophomore Max Knaus has never played a competitive tennis match before this season, Kovac projects him among his top three singles players.
“Kai and Max will play [Nos.] 2 or 3,” Kovac said. “On doubles, I like to play everyone, so not my best players may play doubles.”
Senior Jose Diaz, juniors Dekiah Durst and Caleb Johnson and sophomore Leo Castanon will also challenge for positions on the Scorpions’ boys singles ladder.
The road ahead will be tough for Laliberte’s top two singles players: Senior twins Sarah and Sophia Hermosillo.
“Last year they played down,” she said. “They are eager to learn and are great team motivators at practice. They have positive attitudes and have really taken on their challenges with grace, determination and smiles on their faces.”
“Feisty” junior Fernanda Valencia is stepping up into the third rung on the girls’ ladder, with sophomore Sarah Lynch — sister to boys tennis player Joseph Lynch — assuming the No. 4 position.
“[She] has a nice topspin forehand that gives her opponents trouble,” Laliberte said. “With more practice and experience, she will be a strong player for the Scorpions.”
Sophomore Erandi Mojica is “making great strides” during match play as the No. 5, working hard on improving her ground strokes, Laliberte said.
The final girls singles player is senior Denise McClendon, who just started playing tennis last summer.
“Denise is fast and is determined,” Laliberte said. “She doesn’t like to lose.”
While senior Alisone Doerner finishes cheerleading season before starting tennis, juniors Foo Robeson, Mary Brown and Jessica Wiseman are gaining experience in her stead.
Sophomore Verdy Trinadad has been a welcome, “enthusiastic” surprise and a “good athlete,” Laliberte added.
As in previous seasons, SRRHS international students are also challenging for playing time — Christina Veverita from Moldovia, Natasha Smirnova from Russia and Lisa Zimmerman from Switzerland all lend European flavor to the girls team this spring.
“The top six players are all playing higher positions than they did last year,” Laliberte said. “I want them to enjoy the process. I am more concerned about the players’ growth and development as people more than I am about winning.”
For more photos and the full Scorpions tennis season schedule, please see the Wednesday, March 2, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
