PREP SPORTS:

Boulder City girls tennis winning close matches

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 | 2:07 p.m.

The Boulder City High girls tennis team has a knack for winning close matches this fall.

The Eagles have been victorious in four of their first six matches through Sept. 14 and each triumph has come by a slim margin, including winning on tie-breaker points against Del Sol on Sept. 10.

The Eagles won 31-30 on points earned during a tie-breaker after their match was even at 9-all at the end of regulation and 3-all at the end of the tie-breaker — when the three singles and doubles spots play one set to break the tie.

“The girls were real excited to win that close one,” Boulder City coach Eric Speaker said. “It was a real good morale booster.”

Even if a player was trailing in the tie-breaker match, it was better to earn a few points and lose than being blanked, Speaker said.

“I brought the kids over (before the tie-breaker) and told them every point will matter,” he said.

Sarah Oliveros went 2-1 in No. 1 singles and Mikelle Torgesen was 2-1 at No. 2 doubles to lead Boulder City.

The Eagles went 3-0 during its non-league schedule, besting Chaparral, Desert Pines and Rancho by an identical score — 10-8.

“We are in a real tough league,” Speaker said. “If we can stay competitive with the teams coming up on our schedule, we should be OK.”

The Boulder City boys team is 3-3 overall and beat Del Sol 13-5 on Sept. 10.

Travis Robinson at No. 1 singles and DJ Henderson at No. 2 singles each went 3-0 in the win. The Eagles only lost one player to graduation from last year’s team and Speaker thinks that experience will be beneficial.

“We have a lot of people who have been through it already,” Speaker said. “That helps once you get into league play because you can remember your opponents.”

Golfers fall to Virgin Valley

The Boulder City High girls golf team dropped a 3A Southern League match on Sept. 10 to Virgin Valley’s High 374-393 on the Mesquite school’s home course of Falcon Ridge Golf Club.

Bridget Ward led Boulder City with a 91 on the par-71 course, while Indiana Mead followed with a 93. Brianna Morang followed with a 103 and Brittany Patt added a 106.

“I was real happy with how Bridget golfed,” Boulder City coach Regina Quintero said. “That was a huge improvement for her to come in with a 91. She really thought it could have been lower. She left six or seven strokes out there.”

The 19-stroke deficit was an improvement of 13 strokes from when Boulder City trailed Virgin Valley during a four-team tournament two weeks ago. Virgin Valley and Boulder City are the lone two teams in the 3A Southern League with a full squad.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.