CdM serves up revenge

IRVINE ? Corona del Mar High boys’ tennis coach Tim Mang knew a few things going into Thursday’s Pacific Coast League match against University. He knew he had to change the lineup around a little bit from the last time the teams met, and he knew his doubles teams had to come up big.

What he didn’t know was No. 1 singles player Fabian Matthews didn’t have to sweep his sets for the Sea Kings to win.

Matthews merely won two of three sets, but Corona del Mar took six of nine doubles sets, and was able to edge University, 9-9 (76-72 in games). With the win, the Sea Kings moved into first place in the Pacific Coast League.

After junior Joshua Kim recorded a 6-2 victory over Isaac Lin in the second round ? Corona del Mar’s only other singles win besides Matthews’ pair ? the Sea Kings (8-4, 4-1) were ahead, 7-5, going into round three.

University sophomore Jason Lin, playing No. 3 singles, came from behind to defeat Matthews, 7-5, in the third round. The Sea Kings were swept in singles in the round and found themselves behind, 8-7, with three doubles sets still in progress.

“I think University got pumped up when they heard that Fabian lost. That gave them hope,” Mang said. “They have three good singles players. It’s hard for one guy to play three good singles players with three different styles one right after the other.”

Junior Dustin Hladek, who swept in doubles when he was paired with John Kroopf the last time the teams met, swept all three of his sets, 6-0, with junior Ryan Caughren this time around. The tandem’s victory tied the match, 8-8.

The Sea Kings fell behind, 9-8, when the team of senior Ryan Dupuie and junior Hootan Mehr dropped its third straight set.

But Corona del Mar was ahead in games, so a victory by Kroopf and freshman Chris Damion in the last set of the day would mean a victory for the Sea Kings. With all of the other players and fans gathered around to watch the end of the match-deciding set, Damion and Kroopf overcame getting broken twice to force a tiebreaker. Damion and Kroopf each recorded aces in the tiebreaker, including Kroopf’s match-winning ace.

“That’s what is fun, when that happens,” Kroopf said. “I loved it.”

Damion and Kroopf, who didn’t play together the first time the teams met, swept their doubles sets Thursday, 6-4, 6-0, 7-6 (7-2).

Going into the match, University (21-3, 3-1 in league) was ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division I and Corona del Mar sixth. Coupled with the fact that University beat Corona del Mar, 12-6, on March 21, some might have considered Thursday’s result an upset ? but not Kroopf.

“I wouldn’t say ‘upset,’” Kroopf said. “I’d say we’re even on paper. I just think we did what we’re supposed to do.”

The teams were tied, 3-3, after the first round, which was highlighted by Matthews’ 6-0 win over Isaac Lin and Kroopf’s net play in a 6-4 doubles win.

The Sea Kings got a boost in the second round by Kim’s singles victory, which helped them win the round, 4-2, and take a 7-5 lead going into the third round. Corona del Mar almost took an 8-4 lead after two rounds, but the team of Mehr and Dupuie couldn’t convert on four set points and lost, 7-5.

“We started the season slow, but now we put ourselves in a good position in league,” Kroopf said.