He has been a prime contributor to the Mt. Lebanon boys' tennis team over the past four seasons, now, Ritchie Phan gets his chance to go out on top.

But before he and the rest of the Blue Devils take their shot at a deep run into the WPIAL Class AAA team tournament and qualifying for the PIAA playoffs, Phan will attempt to do the same as a singles player.

Phan was runner-up in the Section 4-AAA singles tournament last week, qualifying him for the WPIAL tournament that begins today at Keystone Oaks High School. The finals will be tomorrow at North Allegheny, and the top two qualify for the PIAA tournament.

"You can't say enough about Ritchie," Mt. Lebanon coach David Shenefelt said. "Ritchie just has the whole package. He's a very decisive, very aggressive player who has worked hard. He never gives up; he's just a true fighter when he's out there on the court.

"He's basically a coach's dream when it comes right down to it, along with some of the other players on the team. Win or lose, Ritchie will give you 110 percent when he comes to play.

"He's been a leader on the team the last four years. It's been a pleasure dealing with him and the other three seniors we have. I've watched them grow into better players. They're excellent students in the classroom. It's been a joy to work with them."

Phan advanced to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL doubles tournament in each of the past two seasons with different partners each time. He also qualified for the WPIAL singles draw as a sophomore.

He isn't necessarily a favorite to win the event -- he did lose, 6-1, 6-2, to Upper St. Clair's Jay Jones in the section tournament, and Jones is considered one of the top players in the area.

Phan has lightened his USTA tournament load in recent seasons. He has turned his attention to the fact he will be attending Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

"I don't really have any goals or any high expectations," Phan said of his WPIAL outlook. "I don't really have anything to lose against these kids. I'll just go out there and play loose, play the only way I know how to play and see how it goes."

Not far behind Phan in terms of ability is junior Julian Pearlman, who plays second singles in the Blue Devils' lineup and also qualified for the WPIAL tournament by placing third in the section.

"He's a very nice player who showed great improvement from last year to this year in terms of playing ability and overall tennis court demeanor," Shenefelt said.

Mt. Lebanon won its first five section matches of the season heading into Tuesday's match against Canon-McMillan. Six of the seven players in the Blue Devils' lineup are juniors or seniors.

"I've been playing with the same few guys for the past four years," Phan said. "We've been to WPIALs and have had the chance to go to states and after everything we've been through, I think we're kind of more aware of what we have to do now.

"It's a matter of not getting too high and not getting too low. I think having been with the same guys, we're all comfortable with each other, and we know what we've got to do."

Shenefelt is excited about the future with freshman Joel Lankford, who is undefeated at third singles this season. Seniors John McGinty and Ryan Pollock are teamed up at first doubles. Both are four-year starters who have filled a variety of roles on the team over the years.

Senior Glenn Bolich and junior Nathan Estrin regularly fill the second doubles spot.

Included among the team's victories this season was a triumph against Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon's top rival and a team that has played in each of the past five PIAA title matches.

"That was a huge win," Phan said. "Our coach talked to us about having our swagger. I guess you could say that win kind of has motivated our team for the rest of the season.

"Of course, our goals as a team are winning WPIALs and going to states, but it's always nice to beat your rival, and this was our first win against them in six years, I think. We were all just really excited about that. It provided a nice spark for our team."