PHOTO BY KENNETH PEISER The Lampasas varsity tennis team poses following the squad's first win of the season. It was an up-and-down opening weekend for the Lampasas tennis program.

The squad began its season by alternating wins and losses during its two-day, four-match road marathon that included stops at Copperas Cove, Killeen Ellison, Harker Heights and Killeen High.

On Friday, Lampasas traveled to the larger 5A Copperas Cove and came out with a case of the jitters under the hot summer sun.

"We ended up losing all [our] doubles matches to start out with," head coach Kenneth Peiser said. "Usually, we are strong in this area, but this time we came out tentative and not very aggressive."

The slow start dropped Lampasas into a 7-0 hole.

After the deficit grew to 13-0, Lampasas finally stopped the bleeding by winning its first match of the day, but the damage was done and Copperas Cove won 17-2.

"Jessica Baker played a great first set to tire her opponent out and easily take the second set," Peiser said. "Katrina Salazar out-lasted her girl in three sets to gain the only other victory."

In extra matches, Chris McWaters, Chris Monroe and Mackenzie Benton all won in singles. It was the first varsity victory for each.

Later in the day, the team traveled to Ellison for another taste of 5A competition.

Disappointed in their previous outing, Lampasas jumped out to a 5-2 start in doubles.

Singles victories from Mason Thornton, Lillie Davis, Katie Shaw and Paige Jones helped set the stage for Cody Self to capture the deciding match. Lampasas won 12- 7.

"The kids were upset with themselves at the way they played during the morning that they came out fired up and more aggressive," Peiser said.

On Saturday, Lampasas returned to the court, traveling to Harker Heights.

Although the morning destination was different from Friday's, the result was the same. The Badgers and Lady Badgers fell by a score of 17-2.

"We had about the same effect we did the day before," Peiser said. "We started off slow in doubles."

The duo of Jones and Salazar were the team's sole doubles victors.

Shaw picked up Lampasas' only other win.

"We did, however, play a little more aggressive and came to the net more as they were asked to do," the coach said.

The afternoon matches also mirrored the previous day's trip.

Lampasas defeated district rival Killeen 12-7 after jumping out to a 5-2 lead in doubles.

Five players ended the weekend with individual winning records: Wade Martin, McWaters, Shaw, Jones and Ashley Hause.

Monroe, Davis, Macy McPherson and Benton all broke even with records of 4-4.

Lampasas' next action comes on Tuesday when the team travels to Gatesville for a 4 p.m. start.