Sage expects upgrade

Bryce Alderton

How excited is A.G. Longoria about the upcoming girls tennis season?

So enthusiastic that even though the Sage Hill School coach will

not have the top three singles players from a team that reached the

CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals last fall, he remains

optimistic that the 2003 edition is even better than last year’s

squad.

“If this team played last year’s team, this team would win,” said

Longoria, who will begin his fourth season at Sage, which finished

second to eventual CIF Division V champion St. Margaret’s in the

Academy League.

The cause of Longoria’s giddiness can be attributed to six

incoming freshmen to complement five seniors, the first time Sage

will feature fourth-year players since the school opened four years

ago. Eight returning lettermen contribute to the projected lineup of

13.

Leading the way for this year’s freshmen class will be Sarah

Geocaris, Stephanie Langer, Alexandra Hsu, Sara Sweeny, Salen

Andrews, from New Jersey, and Carrisa Cummings. Geocaris, Langor and

Hsu are all ranked in the Southern California Tennis Association

girls 14 singles.

“We have the possibility to be ranked in the all-Orange County

polls with some Division I and II schools,” Longoria said.

Sage will scrimmage Santa Margarita and faces Laguna Beach in its

second match, two traditionally strong programs.

Sage’s singles lineup will most likely feature Geocaris at No. 1,

followed by Langer and either Hsu or Sweeny. Cummings and either Hsu

or Sweeny will most likely begin the season at No. 1 doubles,

followed by the returning sophomore tandem of Grace Graham and Rachel

Heyler at No. 2.

Five seniors will most likely compete for the third doubles team,

including Jessica Tsoong, who played on the No. 1 team a year ago,

along with Laura Webb, Annie Levin, Meredith Hultman and Danielle

Berman.

Junior Sarah Flynn, a transfer from Florida will also be

considered for a starting singles position.

Sophomore Elle White will also vie for playing time.

But it is the freshmen Longoria is looking to carry the team, much

like last year, when the trio of Katie McKitterick, Kellie Ammerman

and Paige Fullmer gave Sage a potent singles lineup.

But all three 2002 standouts transferred. McKitterick, the

three-sport star who earned the school’s Female Athlete of the Year

honors in 2002-03, will play golf for Corona del Mar this fall, while

Ammerman will play tennis for Laguna Beach. Fullmer transferred to

Calvary Chapel.

Stephanie Chen, who played No. 1 doubles last year with Tsoong,

joins McKitterick at CdM.

“Even though they were our top three, we are still stronger than

last year,” Longoria said. “We have experienced seniors to play

doubles and [Geocaris] is so strong. She is very smart, talented and

athletic, a welcome addition to our team. She is by far one of the

most talented freshmen I’ve ever had.

“Our doubles will be tremendously better than last year. The

freshmen will be the ones to carry us again. The seniors, which we’ve

never had, are there to give some direction. We might have a

combination of a senior playing with a freshman, so we’ll have a

tournament player paired with experience.”

Longoria is hoping to improve on the quarterfinal appearance and

see his team vie for a league title.

“We should be the favorite to win the Academy League this year,”

he said.