Corona cool with sixth

NEWPORT BEACH — Judging only by the standings, a sixth-place showing at the Corona del Mar All-American Tournament might look like a disappointment for the host Sea Kings.

But considering the competition at a tournament with the best girls’ tennis teams in California, Corona del Mar High Coach Brian Ricker couldn’t be too disappointed.

“The team is getting better,” Ricker said. “The girls are playing better; the doubles are getting more consistent. These are the top teams in the state, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of. I feel like our team is growing stronger, singles and doubles, which is the goal.”

Corona del Mar split its matches Saturday at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club, defeating Valencia of Placencia, 5-3, before falling to Palos Verdes by the same score.

Troy won the tournament, tying Dana Hills, 4-4, in sets in the championship match but winning on games, 53-48.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll and the defending tournament champions, tried to dig out of a hole against No. 4-ranked Palos Verdes.

It was a hole created when CdM lost three of four singles sets to open the tournament’s fifth-place match. Only junior Karen Ishii could muster a win, topping Morgan Thomas of Palos Verdes, 6-4.

The Sea Kings aren’t helped in the tournament format, because it doesn’t necessarily highlight CdM’s doubles depth. Singles players may also play doubles in the CdM All-American, which features four sets of each.

“But it’s fun to play a different format, to switch it up every once in a while,” Ishii said. “It’s good for us, to keep on top of our game.”

Ishii was on top of hers, as she and partner Hailey Hogan pulled CdM closer in doubles. They easily topped Palos Verdes’ No. 1 team of Kathryn Webb and Brooke Schweyer, 6-1.

“It was really good,” said Hogan, who was named to the all-tournament team along with CdM teammate Melissa Matsuoka. “We were really mad in the second match [after the singles deficit] so we were trying to get ‘em. Karen played really good. She’s really aggressive, and her serve set me up a lot.”

Matsuoka and partner Lindsay Zotovich also won, giving the Sea Kings three sets. But Palos Verdes hung on for wins in the other two doubles sets.

“We play good doubles,” Ricker said. “I always have confidence in our ability on the doubles court. Palos Verdes is a good team, but sixth place out of 16 in this field is a good showing. We’re just a little bit behind in this format. But the Torrey Pines and the Palos Verdes matches were basically even. It’s great competition for the girls.”

Corona del Mar had also lost a heartbreaker to Torrey Pines in the quarterfinals, falling in games Friday in the first time the Sea Kings had played the San Diego Section powerhouse in Ricker’s four years as head coach.

“It’s always fun to see different teams, instead of just playing our league matches,” Ishii said. “You never know what’s going to happen. Even if we don’t win, we get some good tennis in.”

CdM will get a chance at a rematch with Palos Verdes in a road match on Oct. 24. Ricker said that match will be important, because the winner will likely be the No. 3-seeded team in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.

CdM All-American Tournament

Fifth-place match

Palos Verdes 5, Corona del Mar 3

Singles – Hogan (CdM) lost to Webb, 4-6; Matsuoka (CdM) lost to Schweyer, 3-6; Ishii (CdM) def. Thomas, 6-4; Feeley (CdM) lost to Scotten, 0-6.

Doubles – Hogan-Ishii (CdM) def. Webb-Chen, 6-1; Zotovich-Matsuoka (CdM) def. Schweyer-Ruth, 6-4; Kaiden-Polizois (CdM) lost to Scotten-Newell, 6-7 (4-7); Stimac-Beyer (CdM) lost to Thomas-Jue, 3-6.

Fifth-place semifinal

Corona del Mar 5, Valencia 3

Singles – Hogan (CdM) lost to Hammel, 5-8; Matsuoka (CdM) def. Blair, 8-2; Zotovich (CdM) lost to Wu, 4-8; Kaiden (CdM) def. McKay, 8-0.

Doubles – Hogan-Ishii (CdM) lost to Hammel-Blair, 6-8; Zotovich-Matsuoka (CdM) def. Wu-McKay, 8-1; Kaiden-Polizois (CdM) def. C-Lee-Tran, 8-0; Nguyen-Feeley (CdM) def. A. Lee-Kelkar, 8-0.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].