In a closely contested match to start off Trans-Valley League play, the Cougar tennis team headed to Riverbank on Friday, March 18 and fell by a 4-5 decision.

Wins for the Cougars came in girls singles and girls doubles matches, while the boys teams and the mixed doubles lost to the host Bruins.

“It was a tough loss, but I was proud that our kids kept their heads up and had a positive attitude after the match,” said head coach Staci Diaz.

In girls singles, Taylor Laugero took a 6-0, 6-1 win while Josie Redberg swept to 6-0, 6-0 scores. The girls doubles pairings were Mia DeVecchio and Nicole Sarkozy, winning 6-0, 6-0 and Brooklynn Berry and Allison Rigg, winning 6-1, 6-0.

Boys singles saw Everardo Peralta fall 2-6, 3-6, with Michael Medina also battling but coming up a bit short in a 4-6, 4-6 decision.

In boys doubles play, David Martinez and Trenton Busch had a tough afternoon in a 0-6, 1-6 loss, while Josiah Beltran and Tommy Pangan battled it out with their Bruin counterparts, eventually falling in a 2-5, 6-6 (tie break 3-7) effort.

Paired in mixed doubles, Jairo Duran and Rachel DeVecchio lost in a 1-6, 2-6 decision.

This week, the Cougars were scheduled to host Modesto Christian on Tuesday, after The Times went to press and will be back on the home court Thursday, March 24 hosting Ripon at 3:30 p.m.