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Steamboat Springs senior Stacy Cavanagh did a little shake of the shoulders and hopped toward the middle of the tennis court. Freshman Molly Weiss mimicked the dance of her No. 1 doubles partner.

Typically, Weiss is more reserved and serious because she's preparing for a singles match. This season, however, she's paired with Cavanagh on the Sailors' top doubles team. It's a pairing Weiss is excited about.

On Saturday, Weiss and Cavanagh defeated Delta and Cedaredge's No. 1 doubles teams in straight sets.

"I kind of wanted to play doubles," Weiss said. "I think it's fun, and I love Stacy. I'll learn to loosen up. I think she can teach me a lot."

The Steamboat Springs girls tennis team had little trouble defeating its first two opponents of the year, routing Delta and Cedaredge on Saturday at the Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs.

Saturday's matches against Delta started with the three singles players and No. 1 doubles team.

Steamboat freshman Lisa Floyd was off the court first, defeating Kylie James, 6-1, 6-0. Floyd has grown up around the game and the high school team. This season, she's finally able to compete instead of watch.

Floyd dominated from behind the service line, with her serve and her return shots. James' serve wasn't as consistent, but it did keep Floyd on her toes.

"She had a good first serve," Floyd said. "It had a flat topspin. When she had to hit her second serve, I drove it down the line."

Between Floyd, Weiss, sophomore Breanne Murray and senior Kelli Parnell, the Sailors are loaded with singles experience, though not necessarily at the high school level.

All have tournament exposure against quality competition. On Saturday, Parnell found herself in a tougher match than she expected against Delta freshman Annie Chastain at No. 1 singles. Parnell and Chastain each held serve through the first six games before Parnell broke to go ahead, 4-3, in the first set.

She went on to win the first set 6-3 and took the second easily at 6-0.

The two had several quality rallies, and both mixed it up well at the net and from the baseline.

Much like Floyd, Murray had little trouble winning her matches Saturday. Steamboat's No. 2 singles player also has a great first serve and is quick enough to run down anything on the court.

In her opening match Saturday, Murray won points on everything including running forehand shots and arching lobs at the baseline. She defeated Delta's Kathleen Shaw, 6-2, 6-0.

"When I'm up, I try to take advantage of the deep corners," Murray said.

During practice, Steamboat's singles players usually get involved in matches, Murray said, so they are accustomed to setting up and finishing points.

Steamboat's other three doubles teams also started the season off successfully. Juniors Anya Salzgeber and Megan Gonio made quick work of Delta's Summer Smith and Amber Baillie, winning 6-0, 6-0. Senior Brittany DeGroff and junior Rebecca Timmerman defeated Delta's Mary Jones and Alisha Clubb, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 3 doubles.

The closest match of the day was between Steamboat's No. 2 doubles team of Adele Dombrowski and Kerry Enochs and Delta's Sierra Huffington and Hannah Davis. Dombrowski and Enochs, who filled in Saturday for Kristin Toy, won the first set, 6-1. They were up by several games again in the second set before the Panthers rallied. Delta got to within, 5-4, but Enochs and Dombrowski found the winnings shots when they needed to win the final game and the second set.

Steamboat's next matches are against Boulder at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Tennis Center.

--To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208

or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com