The Cougars faced a tough challenge Monday night against a strong Delta squad, currently ranked #23 in the state. Despite the 0-5 final score, the girls showed grit and determination, especially at #1 singles where Kate Gilkison battled through the night’s closest match. Gilkison and her opponent traded long rallies and momentum swings in a nearly three-hour showdown. She fought hard in both sets, ultimately falling just short with a tight 5-7, 4-6 loss. At doubles, both Cougar teams had moments of strong play and executed some impressive points, but struggled to maintain rhythm against Delta’s consistent attack in the second sets. Kaydence Ham and Anna McQueeney fell 3-6, 0-6 at #1 doubles, while Lauren Page and Lucy Stewart dropped their match 3-6, 2-6 at #2 doubles. At #2 and #3 singles, Claire Davidson and Tanessa O’Neal each had competitive rallies and flashes of smart play, but couldn’t quite string together full games against their hard-hitting opponents, both losing 0-6, 0-6. The JV team also took the court against Delta and came up just short in a close 8-9 loss. Though the final score didn’t go their way, the Cougars gained valuable experience and showed fight against one of the state’s top programs.