Corona del Mar reloads

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - When Corona del Mar High’s girls tennis team went

to the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals last year, Nadia

Vaughan had to watch her teammates play on the court without her. She

tore her knee ligament and Vaughan watched helplessly as her team fell.

“It was very frustrating,” Vaughan simply said.

This is a new year though, and Vaughan is returning for her senior year

with determination. “I want to get back to the CIF playoffs, and I want

our school to get back as national champions.”

And the Sea Kings will depend on Vaughan to lead the team there. CdM lost

four seniors from last year’s team to graduation, including Eva

Baudenbacher, who reached the CIF Southern Section round of 16 last year.

Vaughan, who is nationally ranked in the 18s, was last year’s runner-up

for Sea View League player of the year honors and is a threat to win the

CIF title this year. She leads a team loaded with young talent.

But the Sea Kings found out painfully last year that talent alone does

not win tennis matches. Despite a 15-4 record, team chemistry was

strained, and a couple of girls quit the team or transferred out. Coupled

with Vaughan’s injury, CdM bowed out disappointingly in the CIF

quarterfinals. To top everything off, long-time coach Tim Mang, who built

CdM into a powerful program, decided to resign, and will coach the boys

only.This year, the team seems intent on maintaining a unified front

behind new coach Stewart. “The girls are really getting along this year,”

said first-year Coach Andy Stewart. “It’s pretty much the same team this

year as last year, if not better,” Vaughan said. “And we all get along

great.”

If the team doesn’t beat itself, then CdM will find losses rare. The Sea

Kings might be one of the strongest group of players in the state.

Besides Vaughan, the team includes freshman Anne Yelsey, who according to

Stewart could be the most talented player on the team. The 14-year-old is

currently ranked No. 5 in her age group, and she has been very impressive

over the summer.

“She’s had a lot of wins on clay and hard court,” Stewart said. “She’s

going to surprise a lot of people.”

Despite her impressive showing, Yelsey will probably start at No. 3 for

the Sea Kings. The No. 2 player in CdM’s singles lineup looks like

sophomore Kim Singer, last year’s freshman phenom who provided fits for

the opposition last year as the No. 3 player. This gives CdM three

singles player of considerable note.

While the singles players are young, doubles are experienced, but just as

deep. Stewart hasn’t set a lineup yet, but will look to seniors Nicole

Charney and Ashley Jacobson to lead the doubles. Adding to the team’s

depth are junior Kristen Griffith and sophomore Leslie Damion. There’s

more talent behind them, and that could be important with Damion

recovering from appendix surgery.

With all this depth, Stewart shouldn’t have too difficult of a time

taking over for Mang. “I’ve known him for 15 years,” Stewart said. “It

should be an easy transition, and it should go pretty well. I’ve also

known a few of the players before.”

Stewart is entering his first year of coaching after spending some time

on the ATP Tour.

“I don’t have to teach them too much, they all know how to play,”

Stewart said. “The only thing I have to do is get them in shape. I have

so much talent, it won’t be a problem.”

Roster

Nadia Vaughan Sr.

Kim Singer So.

Anne Yelsey Fr.

Nicole Charney Sr.

Ashley Jacobson Sr.

Kristen Griffith Jr.

Leslie Damion So.

Laura Claster So.

Katie Tenerelli So.

Sara Brian So.

Hilary Fuller So.

Brittany Minna So.Coach: Andy Stewart