PROVO — Logan's move to the 4A classification last year paved the way for a new team to reign supreme in the world of 3A boys tennis, and after the first day of this year's state tournament, two teams looked poised to claim the title the Grizzlies left behind.
Desert Hills, which finished the day with 10 points — the highest total possible — will enter the final day of the tournament with a slight advantage over Juan Diego, which finished with nine team points after the first two rounds.
"Every year is a new ballgame, so we just consider ourselves one of the contenders," Juan Diego coach Arthur Miyazaki said. "There's a lot of pressure coming in here, and sometimes it gets to you, so we just hope they settle down and do the best they can (Saturday)."
Juan Diego finished a distant second to Logan in the state tournament last year and entered this season as one of the teams to beat. Junior Hong Pei Lu, who took the No. 2 state singles title last year, swept through his two No. 1 singles matches Friday without losing a point. Jake Barman, playing at No. 2 singles this year, also pulled out two 6-0, 6-0 victories.
Still, the road to the team title appears to run through Desert Hills.
The Thunder advanced all three singles of their players — including last year's No. 1 singles state champion Jordan Lyden — and both doubles teams to the semifinals. Desert Hills' No. 2 doubles duo of Skyler Smith and Val Greggersen dealt Juan Diego its only loss of the day, securing the lead for the Thunder.
"That was what we knew we had to do coming in," Desert Hills coach Dow Christensen said. "If you get everybody through day one, obviously your chances are better the second day. I think my guys are playing really well, and hopefully they're on that upswing where you want to be at the end of the season."
Hurricane currently sits in third place with seven points, while Park City and Judge Memorial are tied for fourth with six points apiece.
Play will resume this morning at Brigham Young University's tennis courts. Today's semifinals will begin at 9 a.m.