Ready to conquer

Richard Dunn

When possibility thinking, Sage Hill School boys tennis coach A.G.

Longoria sees his program as a virtual paradise with private-school

amenities in the hub of a tennis hotbed.

“We had 50 kids out for the tennis programs in boys and girls this

year, and I told the athletic director and head master that a third

of the school either plays varsity or junior varsity tennis,”

Longoria said.

“It’s a very small school. This is only our third year (with a

varsity team), but I’m very pleased with what we’re doing. It’s a

great school. I love it there and hope to be there a long time. It’s

a great place to go if you’re a tennis player. Newport Beach, and

Orange County, is sort of the tennis capital of the world with

everything going on (within the myriad clubs). Sage Hill couldn’t be

in a better place with great academics and the ability to draw from

good tennis people.”

Longoria’s girls team was ranked in the top five last fall in CIF

Southern Section Division V, finishing third in the Academy League

and reaching the quarterfinals in the playoffs. Longoria is hoping

for the “same type of growth” from this spring’s boys team.

“We’re still very young,” Longoria said, “but we’re getting a lot

tennis players with tournament experience and players who take

lessons and that’s what you need to be successful.”

Sage Hill, which opens the season today against Laguna Beach in a

nonleague match, ended second in the Academy League last year to

Fairmont Prep, then the Lightning lost to top-seeded Corona del Mar

in the first round of the CIF Division IV Playoffs.

The Lightning didn’t lose any players to graduate, but a couple of

top players will not be in the lineup this year for one reason or

another.

“We’re a very young team,” said Longoria, whose squad practices at

Park Newport Apartments, where the Lightning will also play home

matches.

Anthony Milovantsev, who posted a winning record at No. 1 singles

last year, returns to fill the top spot again, while junior Drew

Roeser will play No. 2 singles.

While Longoria scrambles to replace the departed Alex Myla and

John Hamilton, both strong singles players, he can possibly turn to

Erik Burton or Jimmy Baratta. Burton, who compiled a 31-17 record at

No. 1 doubles last year, can play singles or doubles, while Baratta,

a junior transfer from San Clemente, is the only Sage Hill player

with a Southern California Tennis Association ranking.

Freshman Faryar Borhani, who has competed in the United States

Tennis Association junior development program, is a player to watch,

while freshman Sean Saffari has nine years of playing experience and

freshman Tyler Ross has participated in the Newport Beach Tennis Club

junior program.

“I don’t know how far we can go, because we’re a very young team,”

Longoria said.