SALT LAKE CITY — A day after weather caused portions of the 4A girls tennis tournament to be postponed, 3A tennis players enjoyed much more favorable playing conditions at the Liberty Park tennis courts.
All scheduled early-round matches at the 3A girls tennis tournament were completed Friday, and at the end of it all, the trio of Desert Hills, Park City and Pine View all finished in a three-way tie for first place.
“Our singles played well, and then just hit some really tough opponents that stayed within their games, but our doubles are strong so hopefully they can keep it going,” said Desert Hills head coach Dow Christenson. “They did what they expected to do today, making through and advancing, so they’ve got to keep doing that.”
Desert Hills sophomore Maddie Barton is the lone player representing the Thunder in singles play, and has the daunting task of playing Pine View junior Lacy Hancock Saturday morning in first singles semifinal action. Hancock dismantled both opponents Friday in four straight 6-0 sets.
Park City put itself in a solid position heading into Saturday, with three players punching tickets into the semifinals.
Solveig Karlsen managed to slip past Kenedi Cooper of Dixie in a 6-0, 6-1 decision to reach the semifinals. Karlsen will square off against Snow Canyon’s Francessca Ecklund.
Pine View sent players through in four of the five brackets heading into championship day, and could hoist the trophy when it’s all said and done. All three players in singles action are favored in their respective matches.
Grantsville caught a glimmer of hope in the 3A tournament, as sophomore Maddie Linares bested Payson junior Brenna Menlove, 7-5, 6-3, in the second round to advance to the semifinals. Linares will play Park City product Jessica Santos, who survived in a 6-4, 6-0 match versus Desert Hills senior Sheridan Kimball.
All in all, Saturday's final two rounds should be filled with plenty of drama.
“Pine View and Park City are kind of right in our way. If we can get some help and get them out of the way, we’ll hopefully be ready to make some noise,” said Coach Christenson. “We just need help to get some monsters out of the way.”
Desert Hills has been on the outside looking in since taking state in 2010, with Judge Memorial sweeping the tournament the past two years. The Thunder coach admitted that Friday was a great start to the tournament.
“We’ve kind of met our expectations, but you’d always rather go beyond,” said Christenson.
The 3A tournament will finish Saturday at the Liberty Park tennis courts, along with both the 5A and 4A girls state tournaments.
3A girls state tennis
Liberty Park
Friday
FIRST ROUND
First singles
Mckenzie Lybbert, Payson, def. Casey McClellan, Uintah, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Lacy Hancock, Pine View, def. Cherokie Limb, Bear River, 6-0, 6-0; Maddie Barton, Desert Hills, def. Jennifer Christensen, Grantsville, 6-2, 7-5; Ashlee Earl, Morgan, def. Madison Utley, Richfield 6-2, 6-4; Francessca Ecklund, Snow Canyon, def. Rebecca Windley, Ben Lomond, 6-1, 6-3; Lindee Jo Christensen, North Sanpete, def. Hillary Mason, Union, 6-0, 6-0; Solveig Karlsen, Park City, def. Karina Ashdown, Canyon View, 6-0, 6-1; Kenedi Cooper, Dixie, def. Abby Nordgren, Stansbury, 6-1, 6-0.
Second singles
Olivia Fordiani, Payson, def. Sydney Squires, Stansbury, 0-6, 6-4, 6-4; Hannah Erekson, Pine View, def. Hannah Edwards, Juan Diego, 6-0, 6-0; Dani Lecher, Park City, def. Shellbe Watson, Dixie, 6-2, 6-1; Angela Lewis, North Sanpete def. Rachel Windley, Ben Lomond, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1;Lily Hemenway, Desert Hills, def. Kylie Stringer, Uintah, 6-2, 6-1; Kambry Jensen, Richfield, def. Rhylie Westarp, Bear River, 6-0, 7-5; Courtney James, Grantsville, def. Shayde Williams, Hurricane, 6-1, 6-1; Bergen Nelson, Snow Canyon, def. Kayla Spencer, Union, 6-2, 6-3.
Third singles
Hannah Stockwell-Lopez, Uintah, def. Darcy Pali, Bear River, 6-4, 6-4; Shelby Ivory, North Sanpete, def. Emily Brough, Snow Canyon 6-2, 6-2; Hattie Erekson, Pine View, def. Megan Delaigle, Canyon View, 6-1, 6-1; Lindsey Toone, Morgan, def. Kennedy Jones, Ben Lomond, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4; Sheridan Kimball, Desert Hills, def. Emily Sorensen, 6-0, 6-0; Jessica Santos, Park City, def. Clara Heder, Stansbury, 6-1, 6-2; Maddie Linares, Grantsville, def. Ashley Hansen, Union, 6-0, 6-2; Brenna Menlove, Payson, def. Amy Jensen, Dixie, 7-5, 6-3.
First doubles
Maia Sepulved and Mara Gronseth, Juan Diego, def. Abby Christensen, Sr, and Brooke Anderson, North Sanpete, 7-5, 6-2; Taylor Cooney and Madz Eames, Desert Hills, def. Bergen and Thompson, Tooele, 6-0, 6-2; Keri Jeppson and Shaylynn Riddle, Pine View, def. Morgan Matthews and Whitney Castagno, Grantsville, 7-5, 6-2; Kelsey Moore and Bethany Nash, Richfield, def. Ashlyn Breakfield and Alannah Rushton, Uintah, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Madison Farish and Paige Maag, Hurricane, def. Emily Clawson and Lilly McCrady, Ben Lomond, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3; Megan Snow and Staci Snow, Payson, def. Hailey Hopkin and Olivia Andersen, Morgan 6-1, 6-1; Kylie Schwalbe and Kenna Tychsen, Park City, def. Savannah Topham and Kelli Stovall, Dixie, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1; Kallie Stewart and Molly Johnson, Stansbury, def. Jill Boyce and Amanda Lindsey, Snow Canyon, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.
Second doubles
Ashley Stokes and Kellie Monk, Bear River, def. Caitlyn Miller and Amy Staker, North Sanpete, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4; Maddi Black and Paige Harris, Desert Hills, def. Kathy Glover and Victoria Calder, Morgan, 6-2, 6-1; Caitlin Keenanand Mikela Baird, Juan Diego, def. Camile Nelson and Hailey Gafa, Pine View, 7-6, 6-1; Rachel Rogers and Shelbie Warr, Stansbury, def. Chloe Elmer and Courtney Cowles, Richfield, 7-6, 7-5; Emily Wilson and Sarah Wilson, Hurricane, def. Carlin O’Connell and Natalie Beal, Park City, 6-0, 6-4; Leigh Ann Stowe and Sara Black, Payson, def. Jackson and Vanderwerken, Tooele, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4; Bailee Sandberg and Becca Toone, Grantsville, def. Talleigh Fraier and Brielle Nielson, Snow Canyon, 7-5, 6-0; Savannah Ream and Moriah Spainhower, Dixie, def. Tristen Chandler and Maria Miller, Union 6-0, 6-2.
SECOND ROUND
First singles
Lacy Hancock, Pine View, def. Mckenzie Lybbert, Payson 6-0, 6-0; Maddie Barton, Desert Hills, def. Ashlee Earl, Morgan, 6-1, 6-3; Francessca Ecklund, Snow Canyon, def. Lindee Jo Christensen, North Sanpete 7-5, 6-2; Solveig Karlsen, Park City, def. Kenedi Cooper, Dixie, 6-0, 6-1.
Second singles
Hannah Erekson, Pine View, def. Olivia Fordiani, Payson, 6-1, 6-2; Dani Lecher, Park City, def. Angela Lewis, North Sanpete, 6-2, 6-3;Kambry Jensen, Richfield, def. Lily Hemenway, Desert Hills, 6-4, 6-2; Bergen Nelson, Snow Canyon, def. Courtney James, Grantsville, 6-4, 6-1.
Third singles
Hannah Stockwell-Lopez, Uintah, def. Shelby Ivory, North Sanpete, 6-1, 7-6, 6-3; Hattie Erekson, Pine View, def. Lindsey Toone, Morgan, 6-0, 6-0; Jessica Santos, Park City, def. Sheridan Kimball, Desert Hills, 6-4, 6-0; Maddie Linares, Grantsville, def. Brenna Menlove, Payson, 6-3, 6-4
First doubles
Taylor Cooney and Madz Eames, Desert Hills, def. Maia Sepulved and Mara Gronseth, Juan Diego, 6-3, 6-2; Keri Jeppson and Shaylynn Riddle, Pine View, def. Kelsey Moore and Bethany Nash, Richfield, 6-1, 7-5; Madison Farish and Paige Maag, Hurricane, def. Megan Snow and Staci Snow, Payson, 6-2, 7-5; Kylie Schwalbe and Kenna Tychsen, Park City, def. Kallie Stewart and Molly Johnson, Stansbury, 6-2, 6-3.
Second doubles
Maddi Black and Paige Harris, Desert Hills, def. Ashley Stokes and Kellie Monk, Bear River, 6-1, 6-2; Caitlin Keenanand Mikela Baird, Juan Diego, def. Rachel Rogers and Shelbie Warr, Stansbury, 6-2 6-0; Emily Wilson and Sarah Wilson, Hurricane, def. Leigh Ann Stowe and Sara Black, Payson, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2; Bailee Sandberg and Becca Toone, Grantsville, def. Savannah Ream and Moriah Spainhower, Dixie, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.