Vail Christian girls tennis takes down Eaton to advance to 3A team state semifinals for second time in 3 years

The Vail Christian girls tennis team took down Eaton on Friday to advance to the 3A team tennis state semifinals for the second time in three years. The No. 1-ranked Saints defeated the Reds 5-2 on a sunny afternoon at Homestead Court Club in Edwards. When asked to give his highlight, head coach J.D. Webster said, “the whole thing.”

“I’m so proud of our girls, I’m so proud of our tennis community,” he continued. “Everyone is out here today.”

“It went really well,” added Alexa Blanch, who opened with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at the No. 1 singles spot. The junior leaned into her inside-out forehand and top-spin backhand to make quick work of Avery Haggard.

“I was trying to aim for (her) backhand,” Blanch stated. “And then hitting strong serves to her backhand as well.”

Eaton forfeited its No. 2 and No. 3 singles slots, which meant Heidi Iverson and Ella Pecinka had the day off.

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“I was a little disappointed,” Iverson said. “I was excited to play today — it’s a beautiful day — but I was glad for the opportunity to cheer on my teammates.”

The captain is one of two seniors on a relatively young Vail Christian team, which has steadily established itself as one of the best in Colorado. The Saints have qualified all seven lines to the state individual tournament four years running and also made it to the 2024 state team final. Iverson (No. 4 doubles, 2023) and Blanch (No. 2 singles, 2025) both have state titles on their resumes, as do four other alumni.

“We rely on them a lot for the leadership of the team and setting an example,” Webster said.

Even though the Saints last spring graduated current NCAA DII player Jessie Allen, there’s a feeling this squad might be extra special.

“I think our team this year is definitely one of the best groups we’ve had,” Blanch said. “Everyone is doing amazing and everyone has surprised me so much.”

No. 3 doubles Paige Asbury and Sabrina Nabonsal defeated Eaton 6-1, 7-5, and No. 4 doubles Charly Landa and Corbynn Leonard captured a 6-2, 6-2 win to seal Friday’s victory. The other two doubles matches were tight. Olivia Zajac and Autumn Woods lost the first set, 6-7 (6-8), but tied things up with a 6-3 win in the second before dropping the third, 6-1. Meanwhile, Camden Allen and Iris Blanch found themselves in a marathon match at No. 2 doubles. The sophomore and freshman battled to the end but ultimately fell to Aya Kinoshita and Evelyn South 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9).

With two freshmen, four sophomores and two juniors on the team, it’s worth asking where the talent comes from. Vail Christian pulls from all of Eagle County’s high schools as well as homeschool families. But Webster said the main reason for the sustained success is the broader tennis community.

“It takes everybody. If one part of the equation is out, you don’t have it,” he said. “The kids have bought in, the parents have bought in, Homestead Court Club — our head pro Eric Meyer — has bought in. I mean, we’re blessed. That’s all I have to say.”

While team state heats up, the individual postseason begins next week as well. Blanch, who won the No. 2 singles state title as a sophomore, is now one of the top-ranked No. 1 singles players in 3A. Over a summer training trip to Spain, she retooled and raised her game. Blanch tweaked her grip, improved her serves and slice, and tightened up her backhand top-spin shot.

“I’ve practiced so much since last year and come so far as a player,” she said.

Iverson, who plans to play in the NAIA ranks at Arizona Christian University next year, said she’s seen her composure and confidence increase over the course of her high school career.

“Definitely (my) mental state has grown a lot since my freshman year,” she explained. “Getting to learn more about strategy — I like thinking about that.”

Vail Christian will face Colorado Academy in the state semifinals at Homestead Court Club on May 5. The semifinal draw is a rematch of the 2024 state final, which the Mustangs won 4-3. Iverson and Blanch were both part of that magical run.

“I was a sophomore, just getting used to it all,” Iverson reflected. “Our team did great and I think getting that experience then is going to really help us this year.”

Webster said having home-field advantage has been big this postseason. The Saints — who are 11-0 this year — secured the No. 1 seed largely because of a 4-3 win over D’Evelyn way back in early March. Allen and Blanch pulled out a 6-1, 2-6, 10-8 win at No. 2 doubles that day.

“It came down to those teams for the one and two (seeds),” Webster said. “So, that win was big.”

Webster acknowledged the 2024 state final loss as having a small part of this team’s narrative, but it’s not the whole story.

“Every year our goal is to win the state championship,” he explained. “We build into the season with that goal and we were proud to make it there and be in the finals and we’re excited to have another chance to win the whole thing this year. We just want to do this together.”