HIGHLANDS RANCH | Three chances for a state qualifier slipped past the Grandview girls tennis team on Thursday, as one singles player and two doubles teams lost playbacks chances at the Class 5A Region 8 tournament.

No. 1 singles player Lauryn Mendelsberg, the No. 3 doubles team of Ellen Cho and Annabelle Lee and the No. 4 doubles tandem of Celina Fine and Christine Yu all won third-place matches at Redstone Park, but all three were denied entry into the May 10-12 5A state tournament at the Gates Tennis Center in Denver.

Mendelsberg — who played at state in doubles in 2009 as a freshman — lost in straight sets to Arapahoe standout Elly Fryberger in her playback, but the two doubles teams each had set leads in their respective playbacks, but let them slip away.

Grandview, which had three freshmen in the lineup, had no state qualifiers for the second straight season.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...