100th Annual Southern California Junior Sectional Championships:

Radeva keeps it going

Steve Virgen

FOUNTAIN VALLEY - Nelly Radeva, an 11-year-old from Kaiser

Elementary in Costa Mesa, continued her mastery in the girls 12s of the

100th annual Southern California Junior Sectional Tennis Championships at

the Los Caballeros Tennis Center Friday.

Also, Newport Beach’s Alexa Glatch, the No. 2 seed, defeated Michelle

Murphy (Laguna Hills), 6-2, 6-1, to advance to a girls 14s semifinal

today at 12:30 p.m. at Los Cab, facing unseeded Hilary Barte (Newhall).

Radeva, the No. 4 seed playing in her first 12s tournament, coasted

past Rachel Manasse (Manhattan Beach), 6-2, 6-1. Radeva advanced to a

semifinal match today at 2 p.m. at Los Cab, where she will meet the No. 1

seed, Kendra Ivey (Laguna Niguel), who defeated No. 5-seeded Stephanie

Hammel (Placentia), 1-6; 6-2; 6-0.

“I felt I played better (than Thursday’s match, a 6-1, 6-3 victory

over Bianca Modoc of Yorba Linda),” Radeva said. “I was more consistent

and I was hitting my backhand much better. I was a little surprised

(winning easily). But we had a lot of good points (that saw

back-and-forth action).”

Radeva built a 5-2 lead in the first set, as the errors mounted for

Manasse. Radeva closed out the first set serving, breaking away from a

30-30 tie in the last game. Manasse could not return Radeva’s serve, that

gave Radeva game point. And, Manasse committed an error after Radeva

unleashed a backhand from Manasse’s return.

Then, Radeva earned a 3-0 lead in the second set. Manasse, who

defeated No. 7-seeded Jovanna Sangria (Long Beach), 7-5, 6-3, Thursday,

answered by breaking Radeva’s serve in the next game. But, Manasse posted

two double faults and Radeva went up, 4-1. Radeva continued to show

control and closed out the match, as she broke Manasse’s serve.

If Radeva wins today, she will play in the 14s final and face the

winner of unseeded McCall Jones (Mission Viejo) against No. 2-seeded

Samantha Smith (Los Angeles), Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Los Cab.