Boys’ Tennis: Corona del Mar back in CIF playoffs; Sage Hill and Estancia also earn berths

A year ago, the Corona del Mar High boys’ tennis team missed the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the first time in program history.

This year, the Sea Kings are back and hoping to make a deep run.

CdM is one of three Newport-Mesa teams in the postseason, as the Southern Section released playoff brackets Monday.

The Sea Kings (15-4) will host Palm Springs (14-4) in a Division 1 first-round match at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Sage Hill (13-4) plays host to Dana Hills (9-5) in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs, also at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Estancia (6-6) also earned a home match. The Eagles, who finished second in the Orange Coast League, will entertain Ocean View (11-4) in a Division 4 wild-card match at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Corona del Mar, led by Cal-bound senior Bjorn Hoffmann and University of Denver-bound senior Pedro Fernandez del Valle, finished second this season in the tough Pacific Coast League. The Sea Kings’ only two losses in league were to rival University, which is seeded No. 2 in Division 1.

Hoffmann was the Pacific Coast League singles champion, and Fernandez del Valle finished as the runner-up. They will lead the Sea Kings against Palm Springs, the second-place team from the Desert Valley League.

Sage Hill was unranked in Division 2 for much of the season but ended up No. 10 in the final poll. The Lightning are led by senior Kenan Torlic, junior Adam Langevin and freshmen Emin Torlic and Steven Ferry. Langevin was an Academy League singles finalist. The Lightning finished second in the league behind Crean Lutheran, after sharing the league title with the Saints last season.

Sage, led by first-year Coach Mark Watkins, advanced to the Division 2 semifinals last year before losing to eventual-champion Santa Margarita.