SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah girls 3A state tennis tournament was expected to be another showdown between Region 13 powers Morgan and Rowland Hall, and that prediction is proving to be true after the first day of competition.
In action at Liberty Park Friday, the difference might have been Rowland Hall’s Rachelle Prasthofer, a talented sophomore who continued her undefeated season with a pair of convincing straight-set wins.
Her second victory of the day moved Rowland Hall into sole possession of first place with 10 points. Morgan is close behind with nine, followed by Manti (8), Waterford (8) and Grantsville (7).
The tournament continues Saturday morning, but the stakes will be higher than at last week’s region meet. Last year, Morgan took home its first state crown in school history, and relished the town’s celebration of the title, which included being escorted the final 8 miles back to town by the county fire truck.
The Trojans lost several seniors from that squad but still found plenty of returning talent and have high hopes of doing it again.
“They weren’t very happy when we beat them (at region),” said Rowland Hall coach Susan Daynes.
Daynes knows it will take another fine effort this week, and she found it Friday as Lucy Wallin, Tenny Seethaler, Prasthofer and the doubles squads of Madeline Keil-Alivia Boe and Madeline Frazier-Kate Altman all stormed to straight-set victories.
Morgan advanced players in four of five divisions, including No. 4 seed Katelyn Steel, who was as impressive as any of the top seeds. In addition, third-seeded Savannah Dutson and freshmen Ryann and Sydney Jensen stayed alive.
Rowland Hall’s response started with Wallin, a freshman sensation Daynes figures could win multiple No. 1 singles titles in her high-school career, starting this season. Prasthofer, meanwhile, has also attracted attention and hopes to erase last year’s first-round loss. Prasthofer said she has been feeling anxious all week and didn’t expect to sleep well in the nights leading to state.
“Last year, we didn’t make much of a statement at state, but this year we have Lucy and we’re much better … and deeper,” Daynes said. “The girls know it will take our best effort to dethrone Morgan, and there are a lot of other talented girls here.”
Saturday’s 3A girls will join the 5A players, who had their first and second-round matches Thursday, under what is expected to nearly perfect playing conditions.
Class 3A state tournament
Team scores after Day 1
At Liberty Park
1. Rowland Hall, 10; 2. Morgan, 9; 3. (tie) Manti, Waterford, 8; 5. Grantsville, 7; 6. Richfield, 4.
First singles
First round
Sarah Utley, Richfield def. Hailee Sumpter, Providence Hall, 6-0, 6-1
Lucy Wallin, Rowland Hall def. Emmalee Willmore, Juab, 6-0, 6-0
Sophie Crosby, Grantsville def. Janessa Gayler, South Sevier, 6-0, 6-0
Sadie Cox, Manti def. Isabella Valles, Judge Memorial, 6-0, 6-2
Sophie Christensen, Waterford def. Soraya Leatherwood, Gunnison Valley, 6-0, 6-0
Maara Holyoak, Grand def. Mona Ueno, Maeser Prep, 6-3, 7-6
Lindsey Snow, Carbon def. Annalee Buck, American Heritage, 6-1, 6-3
Katelyn Steel, Morgan def. Summer Price, Union, 6-0, 6-0
Quarterfinals
Wallin def. Utley, 6-1, 6-1
Cox def. Crosby, 6-1, 6-3
Christensen def. Holyoak, 6-0, 6-2
Steel def. Snow, 6-1, 6-1
Second singles
First round
Kelsey Ortega, Maeser Prep def. Anna Strong, Wasatch Academy, 6-0, 6-0
Audrey Curtis, Grantsville def. Kyla Jackman, Grand, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Lizzy Blackburn, Carbon def. Morgan Drew, North Sanpete, 6-3, 7-5
Noelle Kieffer, Waterford def. Isabelle Fee, American Heritage, 6-1, 6-0
Ava Isaac, Judge Memorial def. Piper Harris, Richfield, 6-4, 6-1
Savannah Dutson, Morgan def. Mady Costello, Union, 7-5, 6-2
JoLee Gillett, Manti def. Makaeli Begaye, San Juan, 6-0, 6-1
Tennyson Seethaler, Rowland Hall def. Gabby Carter, South Sevier, 6-0, 6-1
Quarterfinals
Ortega def. Curtis, 6-1, 6-0
Kieffer def. Blackburn, 6-2, 6-1
Dutson def. Isaac, 6-0, 6-3
Seethaler def. Gillett, 6-1, 6-4
Third singles
First round
Aubrei Jorgensen, Richfield def. Elise Runnels, Judge Memorial, 6-3, 6-2
Lacey Linares, Grantsville def. Eliza Beales, Union, 6-3, 6-2
Emma Jorgensen, Manti def. Nicole Swawey, Carbon, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
Rachelle Prosthofer, Rowland Hall def. Mikaila Hansen, Delta, 6-1, 6-0
Mia Parkinson, Maeser Prep def. Kaylee Anderson, North Sanpete, 6-2, 6-1
Bailey Norris, Waterford def. Hannah Gay, South Sevier, 6-0, 6-1
Hallie Martinson, Morgan def. Coralie Frickle, Wasatch Academy, 6-0, 6-2
Stella McGowan, Grand def. Hannah Echols, Juab, 6-2, 6-0
Quarterfinals
Jorgensen def. Linares, 6-1, 6-4
Prosthofer def. Jorgensen, 6-3, 6-3
Norris def. Parkinson, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
McGowan def. Martinson, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
First doubles
First round
Marissa Mclff, Richfield def. Maya Thornell/Ashley Bentley, Providence Hall, 6-1, 6-1
Lucy Tripp/Reagan Toone, Morgan def. Aaralyn Draper/Olivea Howes, Union, 6-3, 6-0
Siya Pandit/Delaney Huefner, Waterford def. Alex Cartwright/Kaydance Scovill, Carbon, 6-4, 7-6
Libby Simons/Heidi Jorgensen, Manti def. Emery Lloyd/Mei Nagata-Brown, Judge Memorial, 6-2, 6-1
Hallie Johnson/Addie Butler, Grantsville def. Lillian Scott/Jenny Kopell, Grand, 6-1, 6-1
Morgan Blackburn/Aubree Robinson, South Sevier def. Sydney Sevy/Madilee Gulbrandsen, Maeser Prep, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Haley Guymon/Shaylee Grange, Emery def. Jamie Walker/Sadie Church, North Sanpete, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2
Madeline Keil/Alivia Boe, Rowland Hall def. Kate Anderson/Izzy Hilner, Delta, 6-4, 6-2
Quarterfinals
Tripp/Toone def. Mclff/Harris, 6-2, 6-0
Simons/Jorgensen def. Pandit/Huefner, 6-4, 6-2
Johnson/Butler def. Blackburn/Robinson, 6-3, 6-0
Keil/Boe def. Guymon/Grange, 6-4, 6-4
Second doubles
First round
Talia Cluff/Emma Christensen, Manti def. Mekker Relph/Molly Knowles, Grand, 6-1, 6-0
Megan Wade/Chrissy Vranes, Waterford def. Charlotte Poulsen/Kara Friant, Richfield, 6-3, 7-5
Ana Maria Olivas/Alyssa Ellis, Carbon def. Julie Moyano/Sara Tolbert, Delta, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
Ryann Jensen/Sydney Jensen, Morgan def. Claire Staker/Krista Hanke, Union, 6-2, 6-1
Presley Chappell/Neleh Troseth, South Sevier def. Justine Nicholson/Audrey Selfridge, Judge Memorial, 6-3, 6-2
Madison Bolinder/Riley Dalton, Grantsville def. Megan Grant/Clare Perkins, 6-2, 6-2
Natalya Benson/Abri Benson, North Sanpete def. Irie Shumway/Adia Eberling, San Juan, 6-1, 6-1
Madeline Frazier/Kate Altman, Rowland Hall def. Megan Hess/Aspen Taylor, Emery, 6-2, 6-4
Quarterfinals
Cluff/Christensen def. Wade/Vranes, 6-0, 6-1
Jensen/Jensen def. Olivas/Ellis, 6-1, 6-0
Bolinder/Dalton def. Chappell/Troseth, 6-3, 7-5
Frazier/Altman def. Benson/Benson, 6-2, 6-0