Pueblo West girls tennis remains undefeated with the help of No. 1 singles McKenna Lough

May 18—The last time Pueblo West High School senior McKenna Lough competed in a high school tennis match she was a sophomore; but after a forced year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she's taken over the No. 1 singles position and is undefeated thus far into the season.

Taking the No. 1 singles position was intimidating, Lough said, but the pandemic didn't stop her from taking advantage of growing her game, which has made the transition easier.

"Not having played really any matches since (sophomore year) was a bit difficult," Lough noted. "So, I would go maybe two or three times a week to a country club and hit with people. I would play doubles with adults just to keep my match play experience."

Keeping herself match play ready had its benefits because in a normal year, the girls tennis team would compete in three different tournaments at the beginning of the season — something they didn't get to do this year.

"Every year for many years now, we've gone to Grand Junction," head coach Sam Pisciotta said. "That's a great tournament because they get the whole weekend right at the beginning of the season. They play a lot of tennis and it helps us get ready."

Lough said competing at the tournament allowed the team to see competition at a higher level.

She said not competing there this year is a disadvantage, but allowed the team to focus solely on its competition in Pueblo.

"Not having that this year kept everyone focused on winning our matches here in Pueblo though," Lough added. "Which is good because our team is doing really well right now."

So far, the girls team holds an overall record of 5-0, but Pisciotta said the preparation of the season has been drastically different than normal.

"It's a shorter season and it's been more intense in that sense," Pisciotta said. "Lately we've been playing match after match, we haven't had a whole lot of time to practice. There hasn't been that building of skills (we would normally have.) It's been more of, 'Here's how you can go in and be effective.'"

Losing their playing time last year, Pisciotta said, meant losing eight seniors and experience for the freshman and sophomore players who had already made great strides in their tennis game.

"I'm trying to make up for that," Pisciotta said. "But there's probably been more of an emphasis of, 'We can correct the serve later, but right now let's work with what you have and figure out how to use it to compete in the match.'"

While the team continues to flourish despite the circumstances, Pisciotta said that Lough has come into her own as a leader, displaying a mental toughness that the underclassman can learn from.

"She's always been mentally tough," Pisciotta noted. "That's one of her strengths, even her freshman and sophomore year, she would be able to go down a set and come back and win the next two."

Topping her mental game is the way Lough carries herself on the court, Pisciotta added.

"Her commitment to the game and to improving herself," Pisciotta said. "She's a good role model for the other girls. I like the girls to see how she carries herself, not just during the season but in the off season. That's what we need to succeed. People playing year-round and continuing to grow as people and players."

Lough noted that her mental toughness stems from an innate competitiveness that has always pushed her to be her best, no matter the circumstance.

"I've played many different sports," Lough said. "With all of them, I've always carried the same mindset, 'Just do your best, and at the end of the match win or lose, just go through it knowing you tried your hardest.'"

As for taking the No. 1 singles position, Lough said she keeps the mindset that no competition is too big.

"I can do whatever I put my mind to," Lough said.

But being a leader for this team, Lough said, is easy because of the talent and work ethic her team has.

"Any time we go out to play, we're going to play our hardest," Lough said. "We might play someone who has high expectations like, 'Oh they are a really good team!' Everyone on the team has different levels of experience, but we all work hard. I really like being able to see the talent we're going to have in the seasons to come."

Chieftain and Pueblo West View reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.