HIGH SCHOOLS:Fisher, O’Niel set pace for Eagles

Bradley Fisher and Danny O’Neil don’t like to lose.

So far in Orange Coast League play, they haven’t had to experience the feeling.

Fisher, a junior, and O’Neil, a sophomore, are undefeated in singles for the Estancia High boys’ tennis team thus far in league play.

Fisher lost just one set all season for the Eagles, who are 8-3, 3-0 in the four-team league. That was understandable, as it came to Orange’s Steve Johnson — the defending CIF Southern Section singles champion — on Wednesday.

A tournament player who is ranked No. 191 in the latest USTA Southern California boys’ 18 singles rankings, Fisher is always trying to get better.

After completing his sets in Estancia’s 14-4 win at Costa Mesa High on March 22, Fisher didn’t just sit around and wait for the doubles teams to finish their sets.

Instead, he, O’Neil and fellow Estancia singles player Ely Zaidler, who is ranked No. 313 in Southern California boys’ 16 singles, engaged in a friendly competition of King of the Hill. The game features two players playing a brief match, with the winner staying on the court and the loser coming off to make way for the third player.

“The thing that sets them apart from the rest of the team is that they love tennis,” Estancia Coach Rachel de los Santos said. “They want to hit as much as they can. They really get along well.”

The Eagles had also never played Laguna Beach before, and they were concerned about their match on Tuesday. But Fisher swept easily, 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.

Still, the Eagles were down going into the third go-round. But they got two key doubles wins and O’Neil won a crucial 7-6 set to help Estancia to a 10-8 league win.

“Although our singles are really strong, our doubles have started to step it up,” de los Santos said. “We had no idea what to expect out of Laguna Beach, but I think my boys were pretty confident.”

SAILORS COMING UP

Another boys’ tennis team excelling early on is Newport Harbor. The Sailors are 5-3, 3-0 in the Sunset League. Their only losses this season are to Mater Dei (ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section Division I), Corona del Mar (No. 5 in Division I) and Woodbridge.

Newport Harbor should have a good test on Tuesday, when it plays host to Esperanza. Like the Tars, the Aztecs (9-1, 3-0) are undefeated in the Sunset League.

EAGLES KEEP WINNING

The streak for the Estancia girls’ swimming team now stands at 42 straight dual meets, heading into a showdown with cross-town rival Costa Mesa on Tuesday .

Estancia still hasn’t lost a dual meet since the 2003 season.

The Eagles (7-0, 1-0) won at Laguna Beach on Tuesday, 94-73. Shea Kopp won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke, and Amber Peters and Taylor Carpenter took the top two spots in the 100 breaststroke.

LEVINE ON FIRST TEAM

Corona del Mar High senior Cari Levine was named first-team All-CIF Division I in girls’ water polo.

Due to an incorrect initial list released by the Southern California Water Polo Coaches’ Assn., which picks the teams, Levine was reported as a second-team Division I selection in the March 24 edition of the Daily Pilot.

CdM senior Sarah Hutchison, who was named as a first-team honoree on the initial list, actually earned second-team All-CIF Division I honors.

MATT SZABO covers swimming and boys’ tennis for the Daily Pilot. He can be reached at (714) 966-4614 or via e-mail at [email protected].