ST. GEORGE — In a tight finish, the Crimson Cliffs High School girls tennis team took first place in the Region 10 tennis tournament, edging both Desert Hills and Dixie.
The two-day tournament, which wrapped up Saturday, was played at Tonaquint Tennis Center in St. George.
The Crimson Cliffs Mustangs won just one of the five brackets, while Desert Hills and Dixie each won two. However, the Mustangs had players in all five finals matches, which made the difference. Crimson finished with 9 total team points, while runner-up Desert Hills scored 10 and Dixie had 12. Note that lower numbers are better scores, since they are totals based on the finishing places.
In No. 1 singles, Dixie senior Kyle Kezos first beat Sara White of Desert Hills 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the finals, where she defeated London Wunderli of Crimson Cliffs, 6-3, 6-2.
In No. 2 singles, freshman sensation Fiona Fackrell of Dixie defeated Amanda Beckstrand of Crimson Cliffs in the finals, 6-0, 6-1. In her semifinal match, Fackrell had defeated Megan Lewis of Desert Hills, 7-5, 6-2. Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Beckstrand had defeated Snow Canyon’s Ava Rowan 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to advance to the finals.
The No. 3 singles final went three sets, with Brianna Hartman of Desert Hills capturing the region title by coming from behind to defeat Bailey Speakman of Crimson Cliffs, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Crimson’s lone finals win of the tournament came in first doubles, where the duo of Cami Stanger and Whitney Matheson defeated Tessa Fielding and Ella Pulsipher of Desert Hills in a close battle, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Those same two schools also met in the No. 2 doubles final, with the Desert Hills duo of Taylee Anderson and Brooklyn Price outlasting Crimson’s Carys Owen and Kate Obray in a hard-fought three-set battle, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-5.
Next up for the Region 10 players will be the state 4A tournament this coming weekend, Oct. 7-8, at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. Although Region 11’s Green Canyon is considered a strong contender in its bid to repeat as state champions, the Wolves are bound to face their share of tough competition from the players on the south end of the state.
“The girls played better than I expected. We are all excited to work hard this week so we can bring that same energy to state,” Dixie head coach Angela Crooks told St. George News after the tournament.
Region 10 tennis tournament, team scores
- Crimson Cliffs, 9.
- Desert Hills, 10.
- Dixie, 12.
- Snow Canyon, 19.
- Pine View, 27.
- Cedar, 30.
- Hurricane, 33.
Photo Gallery
Players warm up during Region 10 tennis tournament, St. George Utah, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Crimson Cliffs Athletics, St. George News Crimson Cliffs players and coaches following their team's win at the Region 10 tennis tournament, St. George Utah, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Crimson Cliffs Athletics, St. George News Players warm up during Region 10 tennis tournament, St. George Utah, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Crimson Cliffs Athletics, St. George News Players warm up during Region 10 tennis tournament, St. George Utah, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Crimson Cliffs Athletics, St. George News No. 1 singles champion Kylie Kezos of Dixie warms up during Region 10 tennis tournament, St. George Utah, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Crimson Cliffs Athletics, St. George News
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