Tennis Playoffs : Corona del Mar One Hurdle From Final

The Corona del Mar High School girls’ tennis team has advanced to the semifinal round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs thanks, in large part, to the Phebus sisters.

Keri Phebus, a freshman, is the Sea Kings’ No. 1 singles player and one of the top players in Orange County.

Kristi Phebus, a senior, pairs with Robin Bain at No. 1 doubles for the Sea Kings, who play the winner of the Los Angeles Westlake-Palos Verdes match today. Last season, Corona del Mar reached the semifinals but lost, 12-6, to Westlake.

Should Corona del Mar advance to the final, it probably would face Miraleste, which has been a fixture in the 4-A championship match. Miraleste (12-0) faces Santa Barbara (16-4) in today’s other semifinal.

The championship will be Tuesday at The Claremont Club in Claremont.

This season, the Sea Kings (21-1) also are led by No. 2 singles player Iliana Adame and Babette Francis, the No. 3 singles player.

But it’s Keri Phebus, the Sea View League singles champion, who has grabbed much of the attention. After all, she is following in a tradition of fine singles players.

Last season, Danielle Scott advanced to the final of the Southern Section individual tournament before losing. Scott, a senior last season, was The Times’ Player of the Year in 1987.

In 3-A semifinal matches:

Capistrano Valley (19-1) at Agoura (21-1)--The Cougars have advanced this far with strong singles play from Michelle Foster, the No. 1 player, and Page Bartlet and Allison Light, Nos. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Capistrano Valley, second-seeded, breezed past Westlake Village Westlake in Tuesday’s quarterfinals, 17-1. Agoura squeaked by defending 3-A runner-up Laguna Hills on number of games won, 84-78.

Foothill (19-1) at San Marino (21-1)--The Knights have been the 3-A surprise so far, but a victory over San Marino would be a huge upset. San Marino, the defending 3-A champion, is the top-seeded team. Foothill’s doubles teams have helped the Knights advance. Led by the No. 1 team of Joyce Hung and Patricia Ting, the Knights won 8 of 9 doubles sets against South Torrance Tuesday.

In 2-A semifinal matches:

Fullerton (16-4) at St. Lucy’s (21-0)--Fullerton has emerged out of the pack largely because of No. 1 singles player Loraine Lau. But the Indians’ No. 1 doubles team of Bonnie Massey and Danielle Leon has contributed some big victories. St. Lucy’s is seeded fourth.

Mater Dei (15-4) at Diamond Bar (23-0)--Mater Dei is another unseeded team that has reached the semifinals. The Monarchs defeated Louisville on games won, 74-73, thanks to 6 of 9 set victories in the doubles. Diamond Bar is seeded first.