Sea Kings perfect with win No. 18

CORONA DEL MAR — When people speak of the Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis team, the same type of words and phrases spring forth.

Domination. Extreme depth. The best. The Sea Kings have hardly a weakness.

That was all on display Monday at CdM, where the Sea Kings easily dispatched Palos Verdes, 14-4.

CdM (18-0), ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division I, has grabbed the clinching point in the second round of the match, in all but one of their matches this season. Monday was no different because the Sea Kings were ahead, 11-1, after two rounds. They’ve defeated three teams in the top five of the latest Division I poll, including No. 2 Troy.

Even the opposition isn’t bashful about addressing Corona del Mar’s greatness in Division I.

“I don’t know if there is anyone that can beat them or even play with them,” said Palos Verdes Coach Danny Moscovici, whose team (10-5) is ranked No. 6 in Division I. “Corona del Mar is definitely ahead of the pack. [The Sea Kings] should win it all.”

When CdM Coach Brian Ricker hears something like that, he does his best to remind his players that Troy and the Sea Kings’ nemesis, Peninsula, are definitely formidable.

Still, confidence can be golden, and players like Jill Damion aren’t about to shun the respect they’ve worked hard to earn.

“We are [the best],” said Damion, who defeated Kathryn Webb and Morgan Thomas, 6-0, and then was subbed out. “We’re the best in the state. I have believed that since the beginning of the season. We have too many good players.

“We have like four really good singles players,” she continued. “The twins [Hayley and Miranda Young] always play great doubles. Our JV team can beat other teams’ varsity.”

Damion was sort of hoping the CdM junior varsity would have played against Palos Verdes, which shares the Sea Kings nickname with CdM.

After playing in the Orange County Junior Open at Cal State Fullerton over the weekend, Damion, like a few others on the team, was hoping for a break.

She half-jokingly said she wasn’t happy with Ricker because she wanted him to put her in doubles on Monday.

“We’re arguing at the moment,” Damion said smiling. “In fact, I’m not speaking to him. Eventually, until he does something to make me happy, I’ll get over it.”

Ricker said he knows how to handle the situation.

“I’ll use the ignore treatment,” he said.

Corona del Mar needed an opponent for Monday because La Quinta backed out of the original match about a month ago, Ricker said. He wants his Sea Kings to face the toughest opponents to be ready for the playoffs.

Moscovici wasn’t about to turn down an offer to play the division’s top team. His top three singles players are freshmen and he wanted that type of test for them.

Damion is one of the top players in the division. She lost in the Round of 32 of the OC Jr. Open. CdM’s No. 2, sophomore Cierra Gaytan-Leach, upset the tournament’s No. 9 seed, Kristin Strimple, and is still alive in the event that concludes this weekend.

Sea Kings freshman Hailey Hogan, as well as Webb and Thomas of Palos Verdes also competed in the tournament, so they were just as tired.

And, Monday was the first of three matches for CdM this week. It will face University today and Sage Hill Wednesday to close out the regular season.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 14,

Palos Verdes 4

Singles -- Damion (CdM) def. Webb, 6-0, (sub) Polizois (CdM) lost to Schweyer, 0-6, Damion (CdM) def. Thomas, 6-0; Gaytan-Leach (CdM) won, 6-3, lost, 4-6, (sub) McKitterick (CdM) lost, 1-6; (sub) Kaiden (CdM) lost, 0-6, Hogan (CdM) won, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles -- H. Young-M. Young (CdM) def. Scotten-T. Jue, 6-1, def. Hawke-Ruth, 6-2, def. C. Jue-Shahin, 6-0; Matsuoka-Zotovich (CdM) won, 6-1, 6-1, 6-0; Atkins-Ishii (CdM) won, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.