SOUTHERN SECTION TENNIS PLAYOFFS : Dana Hills Surprises Corona del Mar Again

For the second time this season, Dana Hills girls’ tennis Coach John Stephens was surprised by the outcome of his team’s match against Corona del Mar.

Pleasantly surprised.

The Dolphins cruised past the Sea Kings, 14-4, in the Southern Section 4-A quarterfinals Tuesday at Corona del Mar. Earlier this season, fourth-seeded Dana Hills beat Corona del Mar (14-5) by the identical score in a nonleague match.

“I didn’t expect 14-4 the first time, and I definitely thought it would be a lot closer today,” Stephens said. “I think both teams played better tennis this time, but the difference was we reached our potential today.”

Dana Hills (17-3), South Coast League runner-up, won eight of nine singles sets against the Sea View League champions and finished with a 92-47 games margin. Nicole Elliott swept three sets in No. 1 singles for the Dolphins, and Anna Zaricki won, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1, in No. 2 singles.

Anne-Marie Roseen and Julie Rosenbluth teamed to sweep in No. 2 doubles for Dana Hills, which meets top-seeded and unbeaten Peninsula in the semifinals Thursday at a site to be determined.