Girls tennis: CdM makes an early statement

Richard Dunn

CORONA DEL MAR - If the CIF Southern Section championships start a

little early this season for Corona del Mar High’s girls tennis team,

you’ll probably understand.

The Sea Kings, relegated to Division IV for the first time this year

after a new section rule that prohibits teams from moving up for the

playoffs, opened the 2000 campaign Tuesday against former Division II

power Mater Dei.

So, with nonleague matches against traditionally strong teams taking a

front seat for Coach Andy Stewart’s Sea Kings, the season-long road to

the top began with a 14-4 victory over Mater Dei on CdM’s courts.

Mater Dei, the two-time defending CIF Division II champion which was

forced to stay in Division III this year, stacked its doubles lineup but

still came up short against Corona del Mar.

The Sea Kings won all but one singles set, led by sophomore Anne

Yelsey, who swept at No. 1 and dropped only one game, while junior Leslie

Damion won two of three sets at No. 3 and freshman Brittany Holland swept

at No. 3. Holland lost only two games, both to Monarch freshman Carolina

Velasco, who played No. 1 singles.

“In singles, we’re as good as anybody,” said Stewart, whose team will

once again measure itself against high-powered opponents in nonleague

matches, while trying to capture the Pacific Coast League title.

“For me, Peninsula’s the team to beat, not only because (the Panthers)

won CIF (Division I) last year but they also lost only one player.”

The Sea Kings lost to Mater Dei last year, 10-8, at Los Caballeros

Sports Village during a span when CdM lost three of four matches and

watched its No. 1 Orange County ranking spiral downward.

CdM, ranked No. 1 this year in the county preseason poll, filled its

nonleague schedule with the best teams Stewart could find, including

Thursday at No. 3 Woodbridge. The Sea Kings also will have squared off

against Santa Barbara, Villa Park and Peninsula by next Tuesday.

“We’ve got our hands full,” said Stewart, who rescheduled a match

against Dana Hills to Oct. 18, after junior transfer Brittany Reitz

becomes eligible to play for the Sea Kings.

“It will be interesting when we get to full strength,” added Stewart,

who will be without the services of junior sensation Kim Singer for about

three weeks because of a shoulder injury.

Mater Dei, coached by former Newport Harbor boys coach Richard Berman,

defeated Trabuco Hills last week in its season opener, 16-2, but made

only a slight dent against Corona del Mar.

Mater Dei’s top two singles players, Casey Knutson and Jodie Nygaard,

formed the Monarchs’ No. 1 doubles team and swept all three sets against

CdM. Newport Beach’s Emily Boyd played No. 2 doubles for Mater Dei.

Damion clinched the Sea Kings’ 10th and decisive set early in the

third round with a 6-1 win over Priscilla Guzman.

In doubles, all three CdM teams won two of three sets, led by the No.

1 team of senior Kristen Griffith and freshman Juliette Mutzke. Laura

Claster and Katie Tenerelli played well at No. 2 doubles and Sara Bryan

and Hillary Fuller were solid at No. 3.

NONLEAGUECorona del Mar 14, Mater Dei 4Singles - Yelsey (CdM) def.

Velasco, 6-1, def. Rose, 6-0, def. Guzman, 6-0; Damion (CdM) lost 4-6,

won 6-1, 6-1; Holland (CdM) won 6-2, 6-0, 6-0.Doubles - Griffith-Mutzke

(CdM) lost to Knutson-Nygaard, 5-7, def. Boyd-Petires, 6-4, def.

Vigen-Van Train, 6-1; Claster-Tenerelli (CdM) lost 2-6, won 7-6 (9-7),

6-0; Bryan-Fuller (CdM) lost 1-6, won 7-6, 6-3.