PHOTO BY KENNETH PEISER The Lampasas High School varsity tennis team opened its district schedule with an impressive 12-8 victory over Marble Falls. With three more victories the team clinches a spot at regionals. Prior to Tuesday's match against Marble Falls, tennis coach Kenneth Peiser had an array of unanswered questions concerning his squad lingering in his head.

After earning a 12-8 victory in the district opener, the coach can, at least temporarily, scratch the subjects of team unity and individual desire off the list.

"This was the best we have played as a team," Peiser said. "All of the players could feel the intensity in the air and stepped up.

"No one gave up, and that was the key; everyone played hard."

Some nervous energy was evident in the hours leading up to the match against the Mustangs, the coach said, but the team had its emotions under control by the time it reached Burnet, where the match was held due to court arrangements in Marble Falls.

Lampasas jumped out to an early lead behind a handful of impressive wins in doubles competition.

Zach McKenzie/Nick Baker, Cody Self/Zach Holcomb and Caleb Wales/Mason Thornton were victorious as duos on the boys' side, while Abby Peterson teamed up with Lillie Davis to grab a win in girls' doubles. Macy McPherson and Katie Shaw were also successful in their match, which gave Lampasas an early 5-1 lead.

Meredith Lane and Amy Johnson pushed their doubles match to three sets but could not win the crucial points down the stretch.

"They played hard and fought for every point, as did all the players tonight," Peiser said.

Marble Falls won the mixed doubles match against Alvin Aleman and Kristine Smith to pull within three at 5-2 heading into singles play where Self, Wales and Thornton all earned victories for the Lampasas team.

After dropping the opening set, Peterson altered her strategy and won the next two sets, taking the match and giving the Badgers a commanding 9-2 advantage.

"This was [Peterson's] best match of the year," Peiser said. "She stayed focused and fought to keep her team in the lead."

The cushion quickly diminished, however, as Marble Falls won the next four matches to tighten the score at 9-6.

With teammates yelling "We need one more!", the pressure was squarely on the shoulders of McKenzie to pull out the match and clinch the victory for Lampasas. He answered the call.

After losing the first set 6-4, McKenzie took the next two sets by a score of 6-3, earning the 10th win of the evening for Lampasas.

McPherson and Holcomb also earned victories in singles competition to pad the team's lead in the process.

"Everyone was cheering each other on," Peiser said. "This was a big win for the team."

Lampasas needs to win three more matches as a team to secure a trip to regionals.

Next up for Lampasas is a home contest against Hutto at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.