It's not often it reaches 100 degrees in Germany.

So when German exchange student and San Luis senior Max Pinnow took a 4-2 lead in the second set after a 6-2 win in the first against Surprise-Willow Canyon's Travis West, the oppressive heat began to take it's toll.

Playing at No. 2 singles for the Sidewinders, Pinnow lost the next four games but recovered in the final set for a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 win, the clincher in the Sidewinders' 5-1 win over the Wildcats in the opening round of the 5A Division II State Team Tennis Playoffs.

"It's not like I want to use it as an excuse, but it was very hot," said the 16-year-old. "Maybe because I won the first set so quick I said to myself 'I won that game, and I didn't have to concentrate as much.' But as soon as I lost it, I was like 'OK, I need to concentrate like in the first set.' I did that, and it turned out pretty good."

Pinnow's win clinched the victory in the playoff match as the No. 5 Sidewinders improved to 14-2 and will face either No. 4 Anthem-Boulder Creek in Phoenix or No. 13 Phoenix-Pinnacle in San Luis on Wednesday. The only loss was No. 1 Eric Rodriguez, who fell to Alex Kottman 7-5, 6-4 in a match that ended 30 seconds before Pinnow's.

San Luis coach Paul Zenker said the 103 degree heat certainly wore down Pinnow briefly and amplified some mental lapses.

"I think he just got a little winded there for a moment and lost concentration," Zenker said. "His opponent was just making some tough shots. So I think it brought him down a little bit.

"He started getting some points himself, making some low percentage shots that were going in, and it brought his self-esteem up," he said. "And with the crowd being here, his teammates cheering him on, I think that just brought it up a little  bit more."

Rodriguez and Pinnow were the last two Sidewinders on the court as the bottom four San Luis players made quick work of their counterparts from No. 12 Willow Canyon, which finishes the year 7-7.

"My personal opinion is that we don't have a lot of difference in the level we play tennis," said No. 4 Jorge Villacana, who won 6-1, 6-0 against Justin Hughes. "That means that four, five, six get to win a lot because we're playing against players at a lower level."

Rafael Rodriguez (6-0, 6-3 at No. 3), Adrian Maranon (6-2, 6-0 at No. 5) and Juan Lara (6-0, 6-0 at No. 6) also recorded wins for the quarterfinal-bound Sidewinders.

"It just goes to prove that these guys here mean business. They're ready to play, and they want it," Zenker said. "I now I've said it before, but it takes heart. It takes a lot of heart and a lot of dedication, and these guys have that. I think they've proved that before and they proved that again today."

For Pinnow, the feeling of scoring the school's first tennis playoff win is not only "beautiful" as Zenker described it, but a unique experience in a foreign country.

"It's pretty cool because we don't have school teams and school spirit and stuff," Pinnow said. "Here I really like it because we have a team and we travel together and do stuff together in our free time. And to get region champs for the second time in a row, it's cool that the hard work from the practice is paying off."