By Glen Rosales
Special to the SUN

In Northern New Mexico, the name Fulgenzi essentially means tennis.

The dominance the family has shown over the years goes back generations.

And now there is a Fulgenzi at Española Valley. There’s three, actually.

Juan Carlos Fulgenzi is the Sundevils athletic director and now also shares head-coaching duties for the Española tennis team with long-time coach Nancy Suazo.

And two of his daughters, senior Gabriela Fulgenzi, and freshman Sofia Fulgenzi, are welcome additions to the already-deep girls’ team that looks like a serious contender to bring home the program’s first state trophy.

“We’re very fortunate to have him and his daughters here,” Suazo, whose daughter, senior Olivia Suazo, also is one of the Sundevils top players, said. “We’re doing really well. Just trying to make sure and work on the little things; team bonding, intensity in practice. Those are the key focuses.”

She described the inclusion of the two sisters as seamless.

“The girls integrated right into the team,” Nancy Suazo said. “Everybody gets along with them and positive vibes.”

The two Fulgenzis slot into the top and third spots in the team’s singles lineup, with Olivia Suazo squeezing in between.

But the Sundevils are not simply a top-heavy squad.

Isabella Archuleta and Keydence Arrey have been mainstays on the team for some time and have state tournament experience. Sophomore Amelia Davis-Martinez is battling seniors Hazel Romero, Kimberly Griego, Nayeli Canales and Myranda Arellano for playing time.

“I would say we’re fairly deep,” Nancy Suazo said. “We’re not just seven or eight deep. We have 12 athletes on the team and they’re all working very hard. Every girl has had to play some role on varsity because we’ve had players out with basketball and family trips and other obligations so we need all of them.”

It leaves the Sundevils in a strong position to make some noise come May, Juan Carlos Fulgenzi said.

“I think we have a lot of potential,” he said. “I knew that when we got here, that it was a team that had a lot of potential, having played them and been in the same district since they reclassified the districts way back. Now we want to stay healthy and stay focused and give it our best effort.”

The coaches will not say they are shooting for the Sundevils first trophy, but that is very much the goal.

“We’ve got to take it one step at a time, keep our eye on the prize,” Juan Carlos Fulgenzi said. “That’s the beauty of the state tournament. And you still have to play them. You have to play them one match at a time, one point at a time.”

Things are not quite so rosy on the boy’s side of things after six seniors who essentially filled the starting lineup, graduated from last year’s squad that reached the semifinals.

“They are brand new so the goal is get them to fall in love with the sport,” Nancy Suazo said. “Do things that are technically correct. They’re working hard so we’re making sure there are no bad habits. We have kids who have never touched a racket in their life. It’s a learning process, but they’re doing really well. They’ve got a great attitude.”

The Sundevils do have two returning seniors in Zachary Montoya and Devin Valdez, but this is the first time either has gotten extended playing time. Still, they provide veteran leadership and a work ethic that the newcomers can embrace.

“We got them as much playing time as possible last year, but they’re out here and working hard, getting better each and every day,” Nancy Suazo said. “They’ve just been learning.”

So many of the boys are still just picking up the basics, Juan Carlos Fulgenzi said, but it’s a solid start.

“We’re just going from learning the game, learning how to keep score, strategy and ball direction and consistency,” he said. There have been gains, definitely.”

And for this season, that’s the point.

“We want to win, obviously,” Juan Carlos Fulgenzi said. “But it’s all a process. Going from getting in serves, limiting double faults, getting into four- or five-hit rallies and getting the confidence to recognize the improvement and continue to work hard.”