CdM edges Normans

CORONA DEL MAR — Fabian Matthews was supposed to leave Wednesday’s match with Beverly Hills High a little after 4 p.m., so he could go to an SAT preparation class.

But, after some thought, Corona del Mar’s No. 1 singles player decided to stay for all three of his sets.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” said Matthews, a junior. “I can reschedule.”

Instead of preparing for the SATs, he proceeded to bring class into session on the court, easily winning all three of his sets in the Sea Kings’ 10-8 nonleague victory at CdM.

The Sea Kings (3-0) had lost to Beverly Hills, 11-7, in a nonleague match last season. And, CdM Coach Tim Mang knew the Normans, who reached the CIF Southern Section Division IV championship game last year, would also be tough this time around.

“I thought this [Beverly Hills] team was stronger than last year’s team,” Mang said.

But, he added, CdM sophomore Parker Rhodes and senior Ryan Caughren had missed that match last year. Both played well Wednesday, with Rhodes teaming with Chris Damion to win all three sets and Caughren pairing with Dustin Hladek to win two sets.

Caughren and Hladek lost their first set of the day to Beverly Hills’ Ethan Bond and David Vayzner, 6-3. The match score was tied at three-all after the teams’ first go-round.

But Rhodes and Damion came back to beat Bond-Vayzner in the second round, helping CdM take a 7-5 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

“After our No. 1 team lost, we wanted to win and do them a favor, by winning the match they didn’t get to win,” Damion said.

Mang said the strategy of strong doubles, plus Matthews at singles, would likely hold true all year long for CdM.

“My two doubles teams are very good,” Mang said. “To win big matches, they’ve got to get almost six points for me, and Fabian’s got to win three. Then, hopefully my No. 3 doubles can come through and get at least a set.”

That No. 3 doubles team, of juniors Bryan Buchert and Brent Pham, won two of three sets against Beverly Hills.

CdM plays against Mater Dei on Tuesday, at Fountain Valley’s Los Caballeros Racquet Club.

NonleagueCorona del Mar 10, Beverly Hills 8 -- Matthews (CdM) def. Ho, 6-0, def. Singh, 6-2, def. Parizher, 6-1; Peyton (CdM) lost, 0-6, 2-6, 3-6; Kim (CdM) lost, 0-6, 3-6, 2-6.

Singles

Doubles -- Hladek-Caughren (CdM) lost to Bond-Vayzner, 3-6, def. Yoon-Fedonenko, 6-1, def. Gabbay-Levy, 6-1; Damion-Rhodes (CdM) won, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1; Buchert-Pham (CdM) lost, 2-6, won, 6-1, 6-3.