IRVINE – The two best girls tennis teams in Orange County squared off Tuesday for bragging rights and important footing in the CIF-SS Division 1 rankings.
University made sure the drama at the Racquet Club of Irvine didn’t last long.
The Trojans used a fast start and well-balanced lineup at singles and doubles to post an 11-7 victory against reigning CIF-SS Division 1 champion Corona del Mar in a duel of former Pacific Coast League rivals.
University (5-0), which moved this week to No. 1 in the Division 1 poll after a 10-8 victory last week against Campbell Hall, beat No. 5 Corona del Mar (3-1) for the first time since 2014.
“It’s huge for our team and our school,” said Trojans junior Cami Brown, who swept at No. 1 singles. “We have a huge rivalry with them. … Last year, they were really happy they beat us.”
Corona del Mar handled University three times last season, including 13-5 in the Division 1 final, en route to an undefeated season.
But Corona del Mar sent three players from its 2017 team – county player of the year Danielle Willson (USC), Annika Bassey (Harvard) and Paulina Loredo (Rhode Island) – to the college ranks.
Brown leads University’s returners and swept 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 against Corona del Mar’s talented trio of UC Davis-committed Kristina Evloeva, Roxy MacKenzie and newcomer Janie Marcus.
Brown also has more help this fall with the addition of freshman Jane Lee. Brown and Lee both won in the first round as the Trojans opened a 5-1 lead. Lee defeated Marcus 6-4 and MacKenzie 6-0 before falling to Evloeva 6-3.
“Jane Lee at singles has added a big dimension,” University coach John Kessler said.
The Trojans’ doubles were again led by the consistent duo of sophomores Mya Wang and Emily Markus, who swept 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. The Trojans’ No. 3 doubles of sophomore Therese Garcia and freshman Megan Bee won two of three matches, pushing Corona del Mar’s top team Shaya Northup and Bella McKinney in a 6-4 loss.
“We did a good job competing,” Sea Kings coach Jamie Gresh said. “(University) is just a little bit sharper and little bit better at all spots across the board. … They belong to be No. 1 for sure.”
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