The Salpointe Catholic High boys tennis team took the first step Monday to defend its state title.
The No. 5-seeded Lancers beat No. 12 Glendale Mountain Ridge 5-0 at the Tucson Racquet Club in a Class 5A Division I state tournament opening match.
The victory was sealed when Tyler Comstock won 6-2, 6-0 in No. 4 singles.
Salpointe will play at No. 4 Scottsdale Desert Mountain at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
No. 1 Ironwood Ridge 5, Kingman 0: The defending state champ Nighthawks protected their home court, defeating Kingman in a 5A-II state tournament match.
The Nighthawks were led by No. 1 singles player Timothy Holten, who won 6-1, 6-1.
Ironwood Ridge will host No. 9 Rincon/University on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
No. 9 Rincon/University 5, No. 8 Laveen 0: The Rangers won on the road to advance.
Girls tennis
No. 4 Salpointe took care of No. 13 Mesa Red Mountain 5-1 on Monday in a 5A-I state match.
Lancer Marilin Beard won her No. 6 singles match 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 to clinch the win.
Salpointe will play No. 5 Gilbert Mesquite at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tucson Racquet Club.
• In another 5A-I score Monday, No. 7 Chandler High beat No. 10 Casa Grande 5-0.
No. 4 Ironwood Ridge 5, No. 13 Phoenix Camelback 0: Shannon Contreras won 6-0, 6-1 in her No. 1 singles matchup as the Nighthawks won.
Ironwood Ridge will host No. 12 Anthem Boulder Creek on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
• Also in the 5A-II, No. 9 Mesa Skyline defeated No. 8 Rincon/University 5-4.