“”We have come a long way to get to go to state,” head tennis coach Ted Phillips said. “We only had five kids back out of 16 that went to state last year.”
Snyder opened the tournament with a 16-3 rout of Monahans, with the Tigers sweeping the Lobos in boys singles and in both doubles divisions.
Andra Dunham, Stephanie Williams and Nikki Timora claimed straight-set wins in girls singles, and Megan Crisp came back after dropping the first set to win her match.
The boys dominated Monahans, with Tanner Reed, Joe Ynguanzo, Matt Hale, Austin Lyle, Kenny Alcala and Wesley Price all securing straight-set triumphs.
Snyder fell in the next round to Sweetwater, 13-6, before the showdown with Fort Stockton.
Number ones Dunham and Reed won their matches with the Mustangs. Both went undefeated in the tournament.
It was the girls singles that helped push Snyder past Fort Stockton, with five of the six entries winning.
Dunham, Williams, Timora, Crisp and Jacy Beccue each won in straight sets.
Reed took the only singles match, while the teams split the boys and girls doubles, and Snyder took the mixed doubles.
“We had to work hard against Fort Stockton,” Phillips said. “This year, getting to state was our goal. We just want to get down there and play well.”
There will be 16 teams at the state tournament, with four rounds.
Last year, Snyder was fifth in the state in team tennis.
The netters open the tournament at 9 a.m. Friday in Waco.