ST. GEORGE — Five Park City players each won two matches to advance into today's semifinals, giving the Miners the team lead with 10 points after the first round in the 3A State tennis tournament.
Pine View had nine points while Dixie and Ogden are tied for third place with seven points apiece.
Park City's Fletcher Keyes didn't lose a set in winning two matches while his opponent in today's semifinal, Pine View's Wes Hancock, won both of his matches easily to advance. Hurricane's Stefan Vlassek and Dixie's Jeremy Atkin will play in the other No. 1 singles' semifinal
The only Panther not to advance, Mike Schijf, who battled illness all week, lost to Tooele's Cody Castle, 6-1, 6-4 in No. 2 singles.
Park City's Nick Vonderahe won twice at No. 2 singles to advance against Castle in one semi today at 9 a.m. Judge's Matt McCoy and Dixie's David Oliver will square off in the other.
In No. 3 singles, Pine View's Jeff Bauer and Park City's Nick Perez meet in another crucial semifinal. Lehi's Dillon Wathen and Ogden's Mike Bokinskie will play in the other.
Dixie's No. 1 doubles duo, Matt Glendenning and Isaac Nelson, will slug it out with Park City's Matt Kunkel and David Marsh in one semi. Judge's Tom Sherwood and Steven Bennion will play Pine View's Reed Whittingham and Sam Christensen in the other .
In second doubles, Pine View and Park City play the third crucial semifinal match between the two top teams. The Panthers' Jason Anderson and Russ Christensen face the Miners' Hank Mastain and Denny Clark. Ogden's Bowen Jensen and Alex Stracener face Canyon View's Mike Steed and Jeff Kempter.
The championship matches begin at noon.