The last time Denair and Delhi High met on the tennis courts the Coyotes won a close 5-4 match, propelling them into the top of the Southern Athletic League standings right behind undefeated Ripon Christian High.

Denair wasn’t so lucky in its second matchup with Delhi on Tuesday, though. The Hawks (5-2 SAL) served the Coyotes (5-2 SAL) a 7-2 loss on their home court and created a two-way tie for second place in the SAL.

“We just prepared better,” Delhi head coach Filipe Espino said. “We worked on team work and communication and it paid off big time.”

“They had a couple girls missing last time we played, but last time my team was also playing inspired; this time Delhi really wanted to win,” Denair’s head coach Paul Michaelis said. “They came out really inspired and they deserved the victory.”

Denair’s victories came in the number one boys doubles team of Eric Storms and Joel Thornton and in the number two boys singles with Ryan Ottis.

Delhi claimed victories in all other classes with Jesus Gonzalez, Trisia Gutierrez, and Anna Gonzalez claiming singles wins and the teams of Oscar Hernandez and Miguel Mendoza, Claudia Morales and Paulo Macedenio, Maya Garcia and Tanya Tafolla, and Lauren Knightengale and Myra Tavarables claiming doubles wins.

The Coyotes must now regroup and prepare for Waterford High on Friday.

“We need to play our best tennis if we want to beat Delhi and we did not do that today,” Michaelis said. “We just need to realize that we’re not the only team out there that wants to play and win.”

Delhi, on the other hand, has the SAL leading Crusaders to deal with on Friday.

“We’re going to try and battle and see what happens,” Espino said. “If we keep progressing like we are we should be able to give RC a run.

“But the ultimate goal is playoffs,” he added.