Parikh powers Salpointe boys to first-round sweep in tennis playoffs

Salpointe Catholic's boys tennis team opened the Division II state tournament with a comfortable 5-0 win over Chandler Prep on Tuesday.

The sixth-seeded Lancers, who have reached the state finals in three straight season, advance to play at third-seeded Buckeye Verrado in the quarterfinals next Tuesday.

“I think the guys played hard," Salpointe coach John Condes said. "It’s important to come out focused and ready to play and they did. They played hard right from the beginning and didn’t take anybody lightly and I think it showed in the results.”

Salpointe senior Yash Parikh beat Chandler Prep’s Grant Knight 6-0, 6-0. Parikh is the No. 1 seed in the singles state tournament and will try to win his second individual championship on Saturday.

The closest set on Tuesday was the first in the No. 2 match-up between Salpointe sophomore Jack Mandala and Chandler Prep junior Austin Barney. Mandala won the match 6-3, 6-2.

“It’s a good feeling, the guys like that,” Condes said. “I guess it just keeps us confident.”

Salpointe was on of __ Southern Arizona teams to advance on Tuesday. Top-seeded Catalina Foothills, the two time defending state champ, won 5-0 in Division II action as did No. 2 Pusch Ridge Christian and No. 8 Nogales.

No. 9 Desert Christian was the lone local team to advance in Division III action, as eighth-seeded Tanque Verde forfeited the match. The Eagles reached the championship match last spring.

Since losing to eventual No. 1 seed Catalina Foothills on April 14, Salpointe has won three straight matches, 8-1 over Phoenix North Canyon, 8-1 over Ironwood Ridge and over the Titans on Tuesday.

Salpointe finished as the state runner-up in Division II in 2014 and 2015 and in Division I in 2013.

Verrado beat No. 14 Flagstaff 5-4 on Tuesday. Parikh said the Lancers can beat their seed if they play their best.

“I think Yash was correct when he said we have a chance to beat our seeding,” Condes said. “We’ll find out I guess next Tuesday. Another tough team but I think the guys are ready to play.”

Before the elite eight of the team tournament though, top seeded Parikh will go for the singles title this weekend at Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale.

“It’s going to be a tough weekend, so I've just got to fight hard,” Parikh said.

On Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals, Parikh will face unseeded Kenneth Arrick from Scottsdale Saguaro. Parikh said he hasn’t played Arrick in a really long time, since he was around 10 years old.

Parikh won 6-0 in every set in the first three rounds of the tournament except one.

Four of the top five seeds in the singles tournament are from Southern Arizona. If Parikh wins, he would face Nogales’ Alexis Ton or George Jiang from Catalina Foothills in the semifinals.

Condes said Parikh focuses well and doesn’t underestimate opponents.

“He’s done very well,” Condes said. “He’s so zoned and focused when he gets into a match and plays, you never have to worry about him being some where else.”

The other Lancers playing this weekend are Mandala and senior Cyrus Grygutis, the fifth seed in the doubles tournament. They will face unseeded Andrew Ekmark and Kevin Kirsch from Phoenix Country Day on Friday in the quarterfinals at Paseo.

“They’ve been doing really well,” Condes said. “We’ll have a good first match, a tough one, so we’ll see what they do but they’ve been playing well together. They’ve only lost one game in the three matches they’ve played.”

POSTSEASON GLANCE

BOYS TENNIS

DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT

First round

No. 1 Catalina Foothills 5, No. 16 Surprise Willow Canyon 0

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No. 2 Pusch Ridge Christian 5, No. 15 Canyon del Oro 0

No. 6 Salpointe Catholic 5, No. 11 Chandler Prep 0

No. 8 Nogales 5, No. 9 Scottsdale Notre Dame 0

No. 4 Mesa Skyline 5, No. 13 Rincon/University 2

Second round – Tuesday, 3 p.m.

No. 8 Nogales at No. 1 Catalina Foothills

No. 7 Phoenix Thunderbird vs. No. 2 Pusch Ridge Christian at El Conquistador

No. 6 Salpointe Catholic at No. 3 Buckeye Verrado

DIVISION III STATE TOURNAMENT

First round

No. 9 Desert Christian beats No. 8 Tanque Verde by forfeit

Second round – Tuesday, 3 p.m.

No. 9 Desert Christian at No. 1 Scottsdale Prep

GIRLS TENNIS

DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT

First round – Wednesday, 3 p.m.

No. 16 Mesa Skyline at No. 1 Catalina Foothills

No. 14 Glendale Cactus vs. No. 3 Salpointe Catholic at Tucson Racquet Club

No. 12 Buckeye Verrado at No. 5 Rincon/University

No. 9 Phoenix Country Day at No. 8 Nogales

No. 10 Douglas at No. 7 Page

No. 11 Sabino at No. 6 Yuma Gila Ridge

DIVISION III STATE TOURNAMENT

First round – Wednesday, 3 p.m.

No. 9 Scottsdale Prep at No. 8 Walden Grove

No. 10 St. David at No. 7 Benson

No. 15 Tanque Verde at No. 2 Miami