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Steamboat Springs — This was exactly what the Steamboat Springs tennis team needed.

Playing against some of the top teams in the state, the Sailors finished fifth at the Western Slope Tournament in Grand Junction.

The fifth place finish opened up coach John Aragon's eyes.

"It's good to play tough teams just to see where you are at and where you want to be," Aragon said. "It's nice because we still have time to train on stuff that might give us an edge at regionals or state.

Cherry Creek finished first, followed by Grand Junction, Chatfield and Greeley West.

Steamboat's lone player in a championship match - senior Lisa Floyd - lost to Cherry Creek's Rachel Loeb 6-0, 6-1.

"The score didn't indicate how she played," Aragon said. "She just couldn't win the game points."

Steamboat did pick up points from its No. 2 singles player (Breanne Murray), No. 3 singles player (Shelby Reed), No. 1 doubles team (Molly Weiss and Kristin Toy), No. 2 doubles team (Kirsten Brehmer and Kylee Swiggart) and No. 4 doubles team (Alexis and Valerie Lezin).

Aragon said he was especially impressed with Reed who went 2-0 on Saturday. Reed beat a player from Cherry Creek on Saturday that Aragon considered one of the best in the tournament. She also beat a top ranked player from Chatfield.

"Those are two big wins for her," Aragon said.

With only a month before the regional and state tournaments, the Sailors have another tough tournament on Saturday in Mullen that features eight of the top teams in the state.

"Looking at that it will be a mini state tournament with only eight teams," he said. "But they're all solid."

With the Western Slope Tournament over and the Mullen tournament on the horizon, Aragon said he's confident the Sailors know what they have to do before regionals and state.

"I think, today in talking with them and seeing their level of play, they felt a lot more confident," he said. "It's the little things we need to do to make it. I'll bet we'll practice with a purpose Monday."

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com