It just wasn’t Free State High’s day on the tennis court Thursday.

The Firebirds struggled in their singles matches and lost, 5-4, to Blue Valley at FSHS, dropping Free State to 0-2-1 in full-team duals this season.

Free State dominated the varsity doubles matches, winning two of three, but won only two of six singles matches.

“We have a lot of girls playing more doubles right now, so it is tough in the duals for them to play in singles when they have not really been playing there all season,” Free State coach Jon Renberger said.

The Firebirds’ No. 2 doubles duo of Meghan Bock and Lauren Kimball and No. 3 partners Andrea Koch and Leigh Luina won their matches, and the Firebirds’ only doubles loss came in a tiebreaker between the No. 1 teams. Julia Guard and Joanna Loewen lost to Blue Valley’s Courtney Kreamer and Karaline Nunnally 8-7 (7-2).

“Our doubles look pretty strong,” Renberger said. “It will probably be that way to the end of the season. We have just been focusing more on doubles.”

Luina competed for the first time since breaking her collarbone at the first tournament of the season, but she didn’t play singles. Guard and Molly Fyler won their singles matches 8-1 and 8-4.

Free State will play this weekend in Emporia before it takes on its rivals Monday at Lawrence High.

“As a coach, I have to take the next couple of days and zero in on who the singles players are going to be and let them focus mainly on singles,” he said. “We are going to use the tournament this weekend to prepare for Lawrence High.”