Boys’ Tennis: CdM dominates rival NHHS
The Battle of the Bay boys’ tennis match had a fairly low-key atmosphere Wednesday afternoon at the tennis courts at Corona del Mar High.
Newport Harbor had many of its girls tennis players make the trip across the bay to support the boys. CdM senior co-captain Pedro Fernandez del Valle brought his dog, a three-month-old Labrador named “Taco,” to the match.
“He’s a lucky charm,” Fernandez del Valle said.
But the Sea Kings didn’t really need one of those on their way to a 16-2 victory. They beat the Sailors for the second straight year, after the Battle of the Bay match wasn’t held from 2012-14.
“It’s that match you look forward to a lot,” said CdM junior Grant Brown, who swept, 6-2, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 doubles with fellow junior Matt Paulsen. “I mean, they’re our rivals. Obviously, we’ve been better than them at tennis in the past, and I just think it’s kind of our job to go out there and represent our school. People hear ‘Battle of the Bay,’ and they think it’s the biggest match of the year. We go out there and get in that mind set, and try to do what we can.”
The Sea Kings (5-1) sucked any drama out of the match early. They took a 6-0 lead after the first round, with set wins ranging from 6-0 to 6-3.
CdM’s senior co-captain Bjorn Hoffmann dealt Newport Harbor junior co-captain David Lee his first loss of the season at No. 1 singles, though the match was tricky at the start for Hoffmann. The Cal commit seemed to have a bit of trouble with Lee’s big lefty serve, and the match was 2-2 early.
But Hoffmann quickly seized control to win the final four games and the set.
The final two sets of the round to conclude were in doubles. CdM’s Matt Paulsen and Grant Brown got past Newport’s Andy Myers and David Sharp, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles. The Sea Kings’ Oliver Kim and John Hart then won the final three games to beat the Sailors’ Sam Leaman and David Schaefer by the same score at No. 2 doubles.
Newport Harbor claimed its first point in the second round, when Myers and Sharp topped Kim and Hart, 6-2. But CdM still was able to open up an 11-1 sets lead.
CdM highlights in the third round included substitutes Trenton Rhodes and Austin McWilliams-Lucero, both juniors, earning their first varsity singles wins.
CdM senior Olivier Kim won twice in doubles, once each with John Hart and Max Bui. The Sea Kings’ Jacob Cooper and Ryan Wessler also won twice at No. 3 doubles, including the final set win of the match. The Sea Kings then sang happy birthday to Wessler, who turned 16 on Wednesday.
Hoffmann and Fernandez del Valle each won twice in singles for CdM before they were subbed out, and freshman Kyle Pham also won twice.
Lee did beat Pham in the third round for the Sailors’ second set win.
Newport Harbor’s record is now 1-4, but three of the Sailors’ losses have come on games after a 9-9 tie.
“We’re really taking our preseason as just consistent practice, to really get us as best prepared as we can for league,” Coach Kristen Case said. “I mean, I’m so proud of our squad. The last three out of our four matches we’ve had 9-alls, and come up short on games. And they continue to come out motivated, passionate, ready to compete. They can smell it and taste it that they’re right there, and I absolutely love their resilience.
“Today was some of the best practice that we could ask for. CdM’s an extremely talented team … and the progress that we needed to have today showed up for us.”
Coach Jamie Gresh’s Sea Kings play host to Mira Costa in another nonleague match on Thursday, while Newport Harbor plays at Crean Lutheran on Tuesday.
The first CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll has not been released, but the Sea Kings appear to have momentum after a tough year last year when they missed the playoffs.
“A lot of that pride in CdM tennis is coming back this year as the team gets better and better, and as we go out there and compete more and more as a team,” Brown said. “Instead of just individuals, it’s a team effort.”
