Sea Kings, Lightning all set for semifinals

Bryce Alderton

Corona del Mar High’s girls tennis team has already knocked off one

undefeated school in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs and

it will attempt the same feat again at 2 p.m. today against host

Peninsula in one section semifinal involving a Newport-Mesa school.

Sage Hill’s girls tennis team (18-3) will play host Malibu at 2

p.m. today in a Division V semifinal. The Lightning, playing their

fourth varsity season, reached the quarterfinals last year.

The Sea Kings (15-4), the fourth seed, come off a 13-5 triumph

over previously undefeated Mater Dei in the quarterfinals, but face a

stiff test from top-seeded Peninsula (21-0). The Panthers defeated

the Sea Kings, 12-6, in a nonleague match earlier this fall.

“There is a lot of speculation about whether they will stack the

doubles or play the same way the first time,” CdM first-year coach

Scott Feichter said. “I wouldn’t change very much if I was [Peninsula

Coach Mike Hoeger]. I would like to get six or seven doubles

victories. We will have to have one of our career days.”

CdM has received contributions during its current 12-match winning streak from the doubles tandem of senior Juliette Mutzke and Jillian

Braverman, who have lost just one set since Feichter paired the two

during the middle of the season. Mutzke was paired with freshman Jill

Damion earlier this fall and the two swept all three sets against

Peninsula.

“[Mutzke] is a great player who gets results,” Feichter said.

Senior Brittany Holland, the Pacific Coast League singles

champion, has lost just four sets this season.

Sage Hill, the top seed in Division V, will face fourth-seeded

Malibu (16-2) after coming off a 16-2 victory over San Dimas Tuesday.

The Lightning, who have won 13 matches in a row, have already made

school history by winning the first Academy League title in a girls

sport, amassing an 11-0 league record.

Stephanie Langer, who played No. 1 singles Tuesday against San

Dimas, is 48-13 in singles for Sage Hill, while teammate Sarah

Geocaris is 55-8. Geocaris and the doubles team of Jessica Tsoong and

Sarah Flynn were each league finalists for the Lightning. Flynn is

49-9 in doubles; Tsoong is 47-12.

Feichter said Wednesday he would probably start senior Amanda

Rubenstein in the third singles slot for CdM alongside Damion and

Holland.

“[Rubenstein] works hard and her intensity often allows her to

pull out sets,” Feichter said.

Senior Jackie Manning and freshman Miranda Young, along with the

duo of Jami Steele and Hayley Young, in addition to sophomore singles

player Rachael Miller, have come up with some clutch victories for

the Sea Kings, who defeated Peninsula, 11-7, in a Division I

quarterfinal last year. Courtney Carnahan also makes up the five CdM

seniors.

Feichter called Damion’s two singles victories Tuesday with

teammates and opponents watching the “highlight of the playoffs.”

“Hopefully the rest of the girls saw that and feel that same sort

of urgency,” Feichter said. “[Damion] didn’t back down.

“The four teams remaining have done a lot to separate themselves

from the pack. The main thing is walking out with your head held

high, knowing you gave your absolute best. That is why people play

competitive sports.”