Girls tennis: Corona del Mar flexes muscles against Woodbridge

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - Woodbridge High girls tennis coach Rick Barth is

officially a member of the Corona del Mar girls tennis fan club.

“They are absolutely unbelievable,” Barth said after CdM defeated his

Warriors, 14-4, in nonleague action Thursday. “As far as high school

teams go, that’s one of the best teams I’ve ever seen. I don’t see them

losing a match this year, not even to Peninsula.”

With power, speed and good ol’ fashioned tennis talent from top to

bottom, the Sea Kings (1-0), ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section

Division IV, made quick work of the Warriors (2-1), ranked No. 3 in

Division III.

“We’ve already beaten University and Laguna Beach this year and those

are the top teams in CdM’s league,” Barth said. “I don’t see anyone

standing in their way.”

The convincing win was even more impressive, considering that the Sea

Kings played without one of their top singles players, Brittany Reitz,

who was on a college recruiting trip.

“We’re definitely deep, that’s for sure,” CdM Coach Andy Stewart said.

“I was very pleased with how we played today, from top to bottom.

Woodbridge is a tough team, maybe one of the top three teams we’ll play

all year long.”

Junior Anne Yelsey opened her 2001 season with a strong showing,

losing only three games in her three sets. Against Woodbridge’s top

player Elizabeth Exon, Yelsey showed her power and touch with a 6-2 win.

“Anne and Elizabeth are easily two of the top five players in Orange

County,” Stewart said. “They’re good friends and that might have had

Elizabeth off her game a little bit. It could have also been that Anne

just flat-out beat her, 6-2.”

Others to sweep for the Sea Kings included the No. 1 doubles team of

senior Leslie Damion and junior Taylynn Snyder, who won 18 of 19 games

played.

“They haven’t played at all together before,” Stewart said. “They’re

just two great tennis players. Leslie can play with anyone and Taylynn is

also very strong in doubles.”

CdM’s No. 3 doubles team of senior Brittany Minna and sophomore Amanda

Rubenstein also swept past Woodbridge, winning, 6-0, 7-5, 6-1.

One question mark is the health of sophomore Juliette Mutzke, who

retired after her second set with an arm injury. Despite her setback, she

still pulled out a tough 6-3 win over Lindsay Rye, before sitting out her

final set.

“She’s been dealing with her arm trouble for a while now,” Stewart

said. “She hung tough and played well, despite her arm problem.”

CdM will travel to Capistrano Valley on Tuesday before Thursday’s

showdown at home against Division I powerhouse Peninsula.

“The past couple of years, Peninsula has always been just a little

deeper than us,” Stewart said. “Hopefully, this year will be different.”

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 14, Woodbridge 4 Singles - Yelsey (CdM) def. Exon, 6-2, def. Rye, 6-0, def. Williams,

6-1; Holland (CdM) lost, 3-6, won, 6-0, 6-1; Mutzke (CdM) lost by

default, won, 6-3, lost, 0-6.

Doubles - Damion-Snyder (CdM) def. Besharati-Hustedt, 6-1; def.

Fazeli-Roth, 6-0, def. Litmanovich-Thompson, 6-0; Tenerelli-Bryan (CdM)

lost, 3-6, won, 6-0, 6-0; Minna-Rubenstein (CdM), won, 6-0, 7-5, 6-1.