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Timpview senior Sophie Thompson hits a shot during the first round of No. 1 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpview senior Sophie Thompson hits a serve during the first round of No. 1 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Orem senior Kayla Carlson hits a shot during the first round of No. 2 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Springville junior Amanda Felix watches her shot during the first round of No. 2 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpview junior Anna Stewart hits a shot during the first round of No. 2 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Maple Mountain junior Raimie Hilton hits a serve during the first round of No. 2 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Maple Mountain junior Raimie Hilton hits a shot during the first round of No. 2 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpview freshman Hailey Miner hits the ball during the first round of No. 3 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Salem Hills senior Emily Nicholls hits the ball during the first round of No. 3 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The Orem doubles team of Autumn Cook and Paige Corey hit the ball during the first round of No. 1 doubles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The Maple Mountain doubles team of Sophie Hill and Lauren Forsey talk things over during the first round of No. 1 doubles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Spanish Fork senior Isabelle Kloepfer hits the ball during the first round of No. 3 singles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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The Provo doubles team of Olivia Kelemen and Allison Chambers hit the ball during the first round of No. 1 doubles competition at the 5A state girls tennis tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

❮ ❯

The state girls tennis tournament often features a dominant team or two who pull away from the competition, sometimes even on the first day.

That’s not the case at in Class 5A in 2021, which got underway Thursday at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.

After Day 1, eight teams are within four points of the lead with many of them having chances to move up depending on what happens in the semifinals and finals.

Timpview may be a point behind the team leaders from Highland (9-8), but the Thunderbirds have nearly as many semifinalists. The Rams had four representatives (two singles and two doubles) win through while Timpview had three.

Leading the way for the T’Birds was senior Sofie Thompson, who had to battle through a tough, three-set match in the first round but won both matches on the day to reach the semifinals at No. 1 singles.

She was joined by the No. 1 doubles team of seniors Emma Wilkinson and Kylie Woods, who didn’t drop a set and only lost five games in two matches, and by the No. 2 doubles team of junior Olive Esplin and senior Aubrey Page (who only lost four games).

Springville is in the mix with five points as the Red Devils had two representative make it through Day 1.

Springville senior Amanda Felix and Timpview junior Anna Stewart battled in the quarterfinals in No. 2 singles with both winning a set.

The third set saw both players make great shots but Felix was able to tally enough points to get the win (6-3, 4-6, 7-5) and move on to the semifinals.

Felix was joined by the No. 2 doubles team of seniors Calianne Skinner and Elizabeth Francom, who needed a third-set tiebreaker in the quarterfinals to defeat the team from Woods Cross.

Salem Hills also got five points on Day 1 but could increase that total since the Skyhawks have one semifinalist.

At No. 3 singles, Salem Hills senior Emilee Nicholls won her first two matches in straight sets to advance.

The second day of competition is scheduled to take place Saturday at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.

For complete details, brackets and weather updates, go to UHSAA.org.

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