Eagles score a KO against Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA ? If the Estancia boys’ tennis team was a boxer, the Eagles wins would all have come by way of knockout.

“We have the best one-two punch in the league,” Estancia Coach Rachel De Los Santos said, after the Eagles’ 15-3 victory over Costa Mesa on Thursday afternoon.

“Most teams have a good No. 1 singles player and a good No. 1 doubles team. But most teams don’t have two good singles players and two good doubles teams like we do.”

The Eagles’ No. 1 and No. 2 singles players and doubles teams won all 12 matches they competed in. Estancia (8-2, 6-0 in league) defeated Costa Mesa (5-5, 4-2 in league) for the second time this season in a Golden West League match at Costa Mesa.

Scott Braunsdorf and Brad Fisher, the No. 1 and 2 singles players respectively, were only challenged in two of their games.

The No. 1 freshman duo of Danny O’Neil and Ely Zaidler came to Estancia having already played against each other in tournaments. No. 2 doubles Chris Alverque and Benny Edles has been strong as well for the Eagles.

Braunsdorf, who took three matches 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 and 6-1, echoed his coach’s sentiments.

“We have all-around talent. We have a great one-two punch,” said Braunsdorf, a senior who has only lost two matches this season. “We are pretty confident. We are playing really well. This is the best season since I’ve been here.”

With a victory, Costa Mesa would have had an opportunity for its first league title.

“They were playing under a lot of pressure,” Costa Mesa Coach Sean Lance said. “I gave them some time off so they can go back and get motivated. Overall, they’re playing excellent.”

De Los Santos said she expected a close match facing Costa Mesa for the second time, after defeating the Mustangs, 13-5, at home on March 7.

“We always have close matches with Costa Mesa,” De Los Santos said. “We usually do well in the first match, then the tension builds for the second one. Even though we beat them 13-5, all of the games were close. Sometimes we go in too overconfident and they have nothing to lose, so they go all out.”

Costa Mesa had an opportunity to win in three of the matches. The first chance came when the No. 1 singles were pitted against each other. With both teams watching, having finished their own matches, Braunsdorf prevailed in the tiebreak.

“I played pretty good. The winds are always a factor here and at home,” said Braunsdorf, who felt he won because of his powerful forehand.

Costa Mesa No. 1 singles player John Dang jumped ahead of Fisher, 4-1, using his speed to cover the entire court.

“I was thinking positive and try to find away to come out on top,” Fisher said.

Fisher came back to tie the game, 5-5, then won, 7-5.

“I was playing my game,” Fisher said. “In the beginning I was playing to his game. Then I started setting up points for winners.”