Only by having its matches early in the morning could the Cazenovia and Chittenango girls tennis teams make their way into the 2018 season last Wednesday since the temperature and humidity pushed the heat index to 100.

The Lakers prevailed 7-0 over Phoenix, preserving that shutout with a first-singles comeback. Alex Galle trailed Brielle DeRoberts, but rallied to pull it out 2-6, 6-3, 10-7.

The rest proved routine as Emmie Dolbear claimed a forfeit and Laura Connor beat Gianna DeRoberts 6-1, 6-3, and each of the three contested doubles matches were lopsided in Cazenovia’s favor.

As Julia Knutsen and Baylee Pierce claimed a forfeit, Clare Douglas and Ella Koch won, 6-0, 6-0, over Ella Heckert and Morgan Kosakowski, with Kaitlyn Puffer and Nina Royer handling Mackenzie VanAuken and Courtney Worden 6-1, 6-0. Abby Burrell and Charley Harris won, 6-1, 6-2, over Katelyn Carbonaro and Mia Graham.

Meanwhile, Chittenango took on Homer, and it was a close battle, the Bears doing quite well in doubles, but unable to nab a singles point in a 4-3 defeat to the Trojans.

Abbie Austin and Keelin Davie put Chittenango on the board with a 6-0, 6-1 romp over Kaitlyn Clune and Sienna Haskins as Chloe Foran and Katie Simmons beat Abby McLaughlin and Brynne Peck 6-2, 6-4.

In three sets, Riley Ellis and Sarah Lanphear overcame a tie-breaker defeat to top Sophie Burhans and Alina Heyer 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, so one more point was required.

It nearly came in third singles, where the Bears’ Brooke DiFlorio overcame a slow start to get the second set from Homer’s Ally Hammond, only to take a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 defeat.

Shelby Maring and Brenna Stanton lost, 6-0, 6-2, to Molly Burhans and Ellis Han, with Delaney Dawkins falling to Catarina Kruman 6-2, 6-4 as, in first singles, Anna Rooney had a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Marlena Kruman.