Girls tennis: Sage Hill planning big future

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT COAST - When a new school opens, sometimes you can get a

feel for the direction its athletic programs are headed and perhaps what

sports are accentuated.

Not that the Sage Hill High girls tennis team is boasting of anything

yet, but, with the right combination, Athletic Director Nate Miller

believes the second-year private school could become “a tennis program to

rival the powerhouse programs in Southern California.”

With the Newport Beach area such a hotbed for tennis, along with the

hiring of a nationally recognized coach, A.G. Longoria, and an on-campus

tennis complex to be completed in the future, the Lightning might well

develop into the next small-school juggernaut Miller is speaking of.

But, as Sage Hill starts its first year of varsity competition in the

Academy League and CIF Southern Section Division V, the upscale

nondenominational school, for now, has its limitations -- particularly

with a place to play.The Lightning, however, will make up for it with

large turnout numbers.

“We were very excited to have so much interest in tennis,” Miller said

of the 40-plus-player turnout at a school of only 210 September students.

“Since we do not have our own courts, we use a van to take the team to

a local private tennis club to practice.”

Sage Hill will open its first year of CIF competition with one junior,

seven sophomores and one freshman, while Longoria comes aboard with lofty

credentials.

“We are pleased to have a coach of this caliber. Having Coach Longoria

on our staff is consistent with the type of educators we have and recruit

at Sage Hill,” Miller said.

Longoria, in charge of the junior tennis program at Mission Viejo

Country Club, coached at the University of North Texas and is considered

one of the top five coaches in America, according to Stanford “Tennis

Coach of the Decade” Dick Gould.

Longoria has coached USTA intersectional teams and two USA Junior

Teams in the Pepsi Challenge Cup against Australia, as well as at the

Olympics and Davis Cup. He’s also a former U.S. national junior team

coach and coach for two sitting U.S. Presidents.

Also the Sage Hill boys tennis coach in the spring, Longoria has been

a high school and community college coach in Southern California, as well

as coach at North Texas, an NCAA Division I school consistently ranked in

the top 10.

At the top of Longoria’s list for the 2001 Lightning squad is junior

Jennifer Hart (Laguna Beach), who will play No. 1 singles. Sophomore

Laura Webb and freshman Krista Skellern, both of Newport Beach, will play

second and third singles, respectively.

Sophomores Danielle Berman (Irvine) and Jessica Tsoong (Newport Beach)

will open the season as Sage Hill’s No. 1 doubles team, while team

captain Meredith Hultman (Newport Beach) and Katrina Redelseimier

(Newport Beach), both sophomores, will begin 2001 playing second doubles.

The No. 3 doubles squad will consist of Lindsey Smith (Laguna Beach)

and Madeleine Scinto (Santa Ana).

The Nos. 2 and 3 doubles teams feature a right-hander and a southpaw

on the court, giving Longoria’s teams a different look.

Sage Hill roster

Jennifer Hart, Jr.

Laura Webb, So.

Krista Skellern, Fr.

Danielle Berman, So.

Jessica Tsoong, So.

Meredith Hultman, So.

Katrina Redelseimier, So.

Lindsey Smith, So.

Madeleine Scinto, So.