After the first day of the MHSAA Division 1 state finals, the No. 1-ranked Huron High School tennis team is in position to win its second state championship in four years.

The River Rats' No.1 singles player, Jack Petersen, lost in straight sets in the second round, but all other singles and doubles flights advanced to play Saturday at the Midland Community Tennis Center.

“Obviously it was a good first day for us," said Huron coach Stefan Welch. “There is still a ton of tennis to be played. We have to come out and play some more tennis.”

The most recent state team champions are bunched at the top of the leaderboard after Friday's play. Following Huron's 22-point effort is 2009 champs Birmingham Brother Rice (20 points, six flights remaining) and defending champions Detroit Catholic Central (18 points, five flights remaining).

Welch, who led the River Rats to a 2008 title and a runner-up finish in 2009, is excited for his team, but knows it has plenty of work to do in Saturday's matches.

“We’ve positioned ourselves well and we have seven flights trying to win a state title," Welch said. “If we play like we did (Friday), we’ll have a good result again. Try to focus on what you’re doing, one match at a time, one point at a time.”

Petersen lost his match 6-1, 6-3 to Detroit Catholic Central's Michael Dube'.

Pioneer also lost its No. 1 player Friday when Garrett Halpert lost his first match of the day after receiving a first-round bye. Coach Tom Pullen felt Halpert played well enough to win, but it just didn't go his way.

“Garrett couldn’t play much better," Pullen said. "It was an unbelievable match, an exciting match."

The Pioneers are down to four flights and scored 12 points. No. 2 singles player Ivan Rakic and No. 3 singles player Taylor Zdanowski have reached the semifinals.

Pullen didn't expect to compete for the team state title, but wants to finish in the top 10.

“No question, we’re lucky to be here to tell the truth," Pullen said. "These kids fought hard just to get here."

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Greenhills is within striking distance of its fourth consecutive Division 4 state title. With five flights remaining after Friday play, the Gryphons are two points behind leaders Lansing Catholic Central, which also has five flights left.

“Everyone that is still alive, really, I think controls their own destiny," said Greenhills coach Eric Gajar.

A two-and-a-half hour rain delay pushed the starting time back Friday in Jenison. Because of first-round byes, some Greenhills players didn't hit the court until 4 p.m.

“A lot of sitting around and waiting. It was very cold and very windy," Gajar said. “It wasn’t ideal, but everyone is playing in the same conditions.”

His team's final match of the day ended around 9 p.m. The boys will be back at it first thing in the morning with semifinal matches set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

The Chelsea tennis season officially ended after Day 1 of the state championship. The Bulldogs had all their flights wiped out in the Division 3 finals held in Holly and Grand Blanc, but did earn four points on the opening day.

“For as young as we are, I think we performed well," said coach Rahn Rosentreter. “The seniors showed the leadership that we wanted for the team, but it didn’t follow suit for the other flights.”

Rosentreter thought his young players learned a lot from making the tournament and they now know the pressures of playing for a state title. This was the ninth time in the last 10 years that Chelsea qualified for the state championship.