Monarchs become kings of the court

Previously undefeated Sage Hill School lost to Mater Dei High, 30-28,

in the final of the inaugural season of World Team Tennis High School

Summer League.

Inspired by the WTT format, the CIF approved of the league where

eight teams played round-robin matches twice a week for four weeks.

Each match had a set for boys doubles, girls doubles, boys singles,

girls singles and two sets of mixed doubles. The team with the most

games won was declared the winner of the match.

The Lightning (7-1) beat Mater Dei, 27-22, earlier in the summer

but came up short in the final. The Monarchs (6-2) held a 13-8 lead

after the doubles round, but Sage Hill came back to take a 20-18 lead

after the singles sets thanks to Sarah Geocaris and Ara Demirjian.

Geocaris beat Elizabeth Van’t Hof, 6-1, in girls singles and

Demirjian defeated Martin Premoli, 6-4, in boys singles.

Mater Dei’s Will Danse and Kelli Kawabe beat Rachel Heyler and

Brian Ngo, 6-4, in the first mixed doubles set to tie the game,

24-24, and have the championship decided in the final mixed doubles

set.

Alle Hsu and Michael Garrison had the set tied, 4-4, for Sage

Hill, but Van’t Hof and Premoli broke their serve to take the set,

6-4, and the match and championship, 30-28.

The coaches said that the response was favorable and they expect

the summer league to grow in the years to come.