HENDERSON – The Prairie View ThunderHawks girls tennis team won three double matches and two singles matches en route to a 5-2 team victory over Machebeuf High School last Friday.

    The ThunderHawks improved to 7-3 this season as a team, winning its fourth event in a row overall and the third in less than a week. PVHS has flashed dominance lately, winning its last four events by a combined 26-2 team score.

    “We had quite a bit of matches throughout the week, so I was pleased and also shocked how well we played against Machebeuf,” head coach Michelle Pilkington said. “It was huge winning like we have been lately.”

    Beginning in  singles play, No. 1 singles player Lindsey Whittington took straight sets over Samantha Askamit, 6-3, 6-3. The sophomore improved her record this season to an impressive 9-1.

    “She is just a sophomore,” Pilkington added.

    The No. 3 singles player, junior Courtney Nordhus, improved to 8-2 on the year, also taking her match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. The lone loss came from senior Kailene Whittington, who fell 0-6, 4-6.

    In doubles play, the No. 1 team of Breeann Backer and Reana Schwindaman earned a 7-5, 6-2 victory.

    The No. 2 doubles team of Katie Danhauer and Michelle Ablutz also claimed a victory and had to come from behind in order to do so. After dropping the first set, 3-6, the duo came back to take the next two sets, both by scores of 6-4. Combined, Danhauer and Ablutz are 8-2 this season.

    Another duo that improved to 8-2 this season was the No. 3 team of seniors Ambour Tran and Staci Maj. The duo combined for a 6-2, 6-3 victory Friday afternoon. Prairie View's Alissa Kruger and LaRae Goldsmith were defeated, as the No. 4 doubles team suffered a 2-6, 3-6 setback.

    The ThunderHawks arguably are one of the hottest teams in the Skyline Conference to enter the regional tournament this weekend.

    “We have a few of the girls that hold good individual records and should be seeded high in the regional tournament,”  Pilkington said. “I'm curious to see how we play at regionals because there are no schools from our conference and we will be playing teams we have never seen before.”

    In the third year running the program, Pilkington has gone from barely filling a varsity team to actually competing in conference play. More than 30 kids now take part in girls tennis, and the coach is pleased in the direction the program is going.

    “We went from just trying to get one win in a season to where we are now,” Pilkington said. “It's incredible to see the progression we have made and it's exciting to see what is next.”

    The regional tournament will be at Colorado Academy High School, 3800 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, May 6 and 7. Prairie View looks to have its first state qualifier in the school’s brief history.

    The top two finishers in the singles brackets and the doubles brackets advance to the state meet next week at Pueblo City Park in Pueblo.

    The second- and third-place finishers can meet in a challenge match if they have not played during the tournament.