Eagles’ playoff flight grounded

Senior-laden Estancia falls in CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals, tying Morro Bay but losing on games.COSTA MESA -- Estancia High’s girls’ tennis team surpassed last year’s performance -- a second round exit -- but would have liked to go a little further, and nearly did Tuesday.

The Eagles came up three games short of reaching the CIF Southern Section Division V semifinals, tying Morro Bay, 9-9, but losing the match on games won, 73-71.

The match came down to the final singles set between Estancia’s Heather Morton and Morro Bay’s Renee O’Steen. Trailing, 4-3, Morton was able to rally to a 6-4 victory. The winning point came on an overhand smash by Morton.

Immediately after Morton’s victory, both teams scurried to their scorecards to determine the winner. The Eagles didn’t have enough. It was a particularly tough loss for Estancia. The Eagles are losing nine seniors from this year’s squad, including all but three of their starters.

“It’s sad to end the season, They have been with the program for four years.” Estancia Coach Rachel de los Santos said. “I wasn’t just their coach. I had them in my biology class, and they were my friends too.”

The Eagles’ strength Tuesday was in their singles play, winning six of nine sets. Freshman Ellie Edles led the way, winning her sets, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0. In her opening set, Edles had to rally against Morro Bay’s Alisa Royer after falling behind, 3-2.

Edles finished with a 44-1 record in singles.

Morton won two of three sets. Her first set, a 7-6 win over Chelsea Dover, ended with Morton winning, 13-11, on tiebreakers.

“I have been really impressed with Heather this year,” Coach de los Santos said about her four-year varsity player. “She has overcome many obstacles in her personal life, and been a rock for this team.”

Morro Bay Coach Karen Roth said she was impressed with the Eagles’ singles players.

“After I saw how strong their singles were, I was hoping for a tie,” Roth said. “After the second round of sets, I didn’t think we would win a tiebreaker.”

Each of the Eagles’ doubles teams won one set in.

Sarah Stratton won Estancia’s other singles set.

“I am extremely proud of these girls. We finally made it past the second round, and we almost got further,” de los Santos said.

Morro Bay (17-3) will play Sage Hill on Thursday in the semifinals at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club.

CIF Southern Section Division V

Quarterfinals

Morro Bay 9,

Estancia 9

Morro Bay wins on games, 73-71

Singles -- Edles, def. Royer, 6-4, def. C. Dover 6-1, def. O’Steen, 6-0; Morton (Est) lost, 6-1, won 7-6, 6-4; Stratton (Est) lost, 6-0, 6-1, won 6-1.

Doubles -- O’Toole-Pittman lost to Redman-Miller, 6-2, lost to K. Dover-Porter, 6-3, def. Rowlee-McPhetridge, 6-2; Tonin-Muradin (Est) lost, 6-1, 6-2, won, 6-1; Cloud-Johnston (Est) lost, 6-1, 6-4, won, 6-0.

20051116AK1L0ALONo Caption20051116iq0z0uknDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Estancia High girls’ tennis player Ellie Edles slams a forehand during a playoff match against Morro Bay.