CdM, Sage No. 1 seeds

Sage Hill School and Corona del Mar High will begin the work of validating dominant regular seasons with a championship after each was awarded the top seed in their respective division for the CIF Southern Section girls’ tennis playoffs.

Pairings released Monday revealed Corona del Mar had earned the top seed in Division I, which means a first-round bye.

Sage Hill, the defending Division IV champion, garnered the top seed in Division IV.

Estancia (Division I) and Newport Harbor (Division II) also qualified for the playoffs. All matches are scheduled for 2 p.m. with first-round matches scheduled Thursday.

Corona del Mar (21-0) owns victories over eight of the top teams in the division. But the Sea Kings have yet to face Estancia (12-5) which finished second in the Orange Coast League. Estancia, in its first Division I draw, would advance to meet the Sea Kings with a first-round victory.

The Eagles, who moved up from Division V, will play host to Redondo Union (10-8), an at-large entry after finishing fourth in the Bay League.

Estancia is led by sophomore Ellie Edles (39-4), who finished second in the league singles tournament, as well as the doubles tandem of Abby Koff and Jennifer Johnston (34-14). Freshman Kendra Fisher was 35-11 in singles.

For Corona del Mar, which reached the semifinals last season, not having to play until Saturday gives the Sea Kings added rest after a busy regular season.

Sea Kings’ freshman Melissa Matsuoka won the Pacific Coast League singles title, but will likely play doubles in the playoffs.

Senior Jill Damion and sophomore Cierra Gaytan-Leach won the league doubles title, but Damion was the team’s No. 1 singles player during the regular season.

Corona del Mar boasts a formidable doubles duo in twin seniors Hayley and Miranda Young.

Sage Hill won its third straight Academy League title and with a 26-3 record played the most matches of any school in the section. The Lightning will play host to Yucca Valley (10-4-1) in the first round.

In singles, the Lightning are lead by seniors Sarah Geocaris (35-1) and Stephanie Langer (31-4), who were league semifinalists, as well as junior Ahsley Adams (32-3).

In doubles, the tandem of senior Alle Hsu and sophomore Jaclyn Smrecek amassed a 40-2 record, with the only two losses coming against the Sea Kings. Hsu and Smrecek also won the league doubles title.

Seniors Salen Andrews and Carissa Cummings (32-0), as well as senior Erica Spivack and junior Brina Dokich (24-2) were league semifinalists in doubles.

Newport Harbor (11-5) will hit the road to take on Baseline League champion Upland (16-3) in a first-round match.

The Sailors are led by junior Alex McIntosh who finished the regular season 19-3, as well as the doubles tandem of seniors Chrissy Schwartz and Sasha Dunlap who were 20-1.