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Mirko Erspamer finally has figured out what it takes to win.

The Steamboat Springs High School junior tennis player said after his first win on Saturday - a three-set victory against Ponderosa's Lucas Quintero - that he's finally understanding the game of tennis.

Erspamer beat Quintero, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, to clinch a 4-3 win for Steamboat. Later in the afternoon against Colorado Academy, Erspamer cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win against Peter Sisk to give Steamboat another 4-3 victory.

But it was the match against Quintero that had Erspamer and Steamboat coaches excited.

After losing the first set, he fell behind, 3-0, in the second set. On the verge of getting blown out, Erspamer decided he wouldn't give up.

"I never stopped fighting for points after that first set," he said. "It showed. I came back and won. I just started playing more aggressive and attacking."

With that aggression came confidence.

Erspamer's Saturday highlighted a great opening weekend for the Steamboat team. The Sailors went 3-0 during Friday and Saturday's play and proved they are going to be one of the teams to beat.

In addition to Erspamer going 3-0 over the weekend, No. 1 singles player Jamey Swiggart and the No. 2 doubles team of Keegan Burger and Vladan Chase all went 3-0.

"Down the road, it's going to mean a lot because we have a lot of other tough teams on our schedule," Steamboat coach John Aragon said. "To compete that many hours and come out successful does a lot for their self esteem and confidence. There are more challenges in our lineup, but no matter who is going to play where we're going to be solid."

Swiggart, who cruised in his first two matches of the weekend, faced Colorado Academy's Thomas Sisk on Saturday. Last season Sisk beat Swiggart in a high school match. But even after dropping the first set, 6-3, Swiggart bounced back to win the last two sets, 7-5, 6-3.

"That was like watching mid-season play," Aragon said about the Swiggart-Sisk match. "It was a fun match to watch."

Steamboat next plays at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Wheat Ridge. While Aragon said there still is work to be done, he was very happy with the way the weekend played out, especially on the Sailors' home court.

"I'm really, really pleased," he said. "They were tenacious on the court and didn't give up. There are a lot of things we need to work on. But it's nice to see them early and fight like that. It's great they have tough matches under them."