Eagles’ best return

This summer, Ellie Edles seemed to play just about every tournament she could enter.

This fall, the Estancia High girls’ tennis team should benefit.

Experience like that can go a long way for the Eagles, who are in their second year of CIF Southern Section Division I play after moving up from Division V. Last year, Estancia was impressive at times, but two tennis powerhouses seemed to get in the Eagles’ way.

Laguna Beach beat Estancia three times on its way to the inaugural Orange Coast League title. Then, Corona del Mar High blanked the Eagles, 18-0, in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. CdM went on to win the title.

“I still believe that the Orange Coast League doesn’t belong in Division I for tennis,” Estancia Coach Rachel de los Santos said. “Once we get out of league and go to CIF, it’s a whole different world. But, in terms of exposure, I think playing in Division I is good.”

It’s exposure for players like Edles, who won two tournaments this summer, including the Orange County Tennis Academy Junior Open on Sunday .

Edles, who has a pars defect that can cause back pain, returns at No. 1 singles for Estancia. This summer marked the first time she played without her back brace.

Last year, she went 39-4 in the regular season and finished second in the OCL singles tournament. By playing in plenty of tournaments this summer, Edles is up to No. 90 in the United States Tennis Assn. girls’ 16s rankings for Southern California.

“She’s made it to the finals in a lot of those tournaments,” de los Santos said. “As far as I know, she’s feeling pretty healthy.”

Sophomore Kendra Fisher, the sister of Estancia boys’ tennis standout Bradley Fisher, also returns at No. 2 singles. She was 35-11 last year in singles.

“She’s getting a lot stronger,” de los Santos said. “Last year, she was sort of a ball-pusher. But this year she’s hitting a lot harder.”

The No. 1 doubles team of senior Abby Koff and junior Jennifer Johnston is also back.

Last year, Koff and Johnston were fourth in the league in doubles, but de los Santos said their goal this year is to be the best duo in league and qualify for CIF Individuals.

De los Santos said it helps to have top returners back in both singles and doubles.

“It’s really nice,” she said. “It’ll be really easy to fill the rest of the spots, too. I have a lot of good girls.”

Also returning in doubles are seniors Chantel O’Toole, Jennifer Corona and Vidya Ramdath-Maharaj, as well as juniors Natalie Plascencia and Erin Rodman.

Players up from the Eagles’ junior varsity include sophomore Misha Brown, who was the No. 1 singles player on junior varsity last year and undefeated in the Orange Coast League.

Senior Marysol Hernandez is also up from JV, and junior Alex Payzant is a newcomer to tennis from volleyball.

Rodman, Payzant or freshman Laurel Hinson could all start at No. 3 singles, with the rest playing doubles, de los Santos said.

“I think we’re pretty well-balanced,” de los Santos said. “We have really strong players at the top, and the twos and threes are pretty competitive with one another. We only lost two senior starters. I think we’ll be better than we were last year.”

And, as far as Orange Coast League play goes, de los Santos said she expects her team to contend more closely with Laguna for the title this year.

“They lost two really good seniors,” de los Santos said. “It depends, because Laguna’s the type of area where they can get some good new freshmen in. But I definitely think we’ll be a lot more competitive.”

Estancia opens with a scrimmage against Beckman on Tuesday.

The Eagles open the season at Irvine on Thursday. Their first home match is Sept. 10 against Bolsa Grande.