After a 5-0 loss to Rockhust in the Class 2 sectional round of the MSHSAA State Tennis Championships bracket one entry for Park Hill South is still alive entering the state championships set for this weekend at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.

Cooper Hayes and Andrew Robaska will make the trek to Springfield as the first Panthers athletes to make state since 2015.

Hayes and Robaska won 6-3, 6-0 against Liberty’s Noah Koch and Cameron Duello to punch their ticket to state after winning the Class 2 District 16 doubles crown against Platte County’s Noah Singer and Spencer Klopfer.

That event was held on Tuesday, May 15, at Platte County High School.

Park Hill South’s J.D. Nassab and Josh Robaska, Andrew’s cousin, earned seventh place in 2015 after claiming the Class 2 District 15 crown.

BRYCE MERENESS/Citizen photo
Park Hill South’s Andrew Robaska gets to the net to return a volley during the Class 2 Sectional 8 on Tuesday, May 15, at the Platte County High School tennis courts. Robaska and doubles teammate Cooper Hayes won and will go the the state finals.

Now in district 16 the Panthers pair will be drawn into the field featuring the final 16 teams on Wednesday, May 23. Two wins at the tournament guarantee a medal in the double elimination-bracket.

Singer and Klopfer lost to Liberty’s top doubles pair Owen Thomas and Tyson Cowger, the District 15 champions, 6-1, 6-1.

The Rockhurst vs. Park Hill South sectional playoff match was held on Friday, May 18. It was moved up a day due to weather concerns.

Rockhurst beat Liberty in the second match on Friday to improve to 13-0 to secure a spot in the final four.