Palo Verde’s run of five consecutive girls state team tennis titles came to an end with a 10-7 loss to Coronado in last Friday’s championship match, but Panthers standout Remi Rice is ready to move on.

In fact, she hopes to start a new streak.

The top-ranked defending state champion has not lost a 5A Southern League match in the past two seasons, and she heads into this week’s individual championship tourney as the heavy favorite to win another title.

Although she is aware of the expectations, Rice avoids looking too far ahead.

“I try to think of it as one match at a time,” said Rice, whose only three nonleague losses this season came against elite competition at the Vegas Invitational Cup tournament in August. “I always try to enjoy my matches, play hard and stay mentally stable.”

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