CdM’s rare pair of aces

Danielle Kaiden had played with several doubles partners over the last two years, while Paige Polizois had rarely even played doubles.

So, when Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis coach Brian Ricker decided to pair the two juniors together midway through the Sea Kings’ season, nobody knew what to expect.

On paper, it might not have looked like a great combination. Kaiden, who compiled a 40-0 doubles record against Orange County as a sophomore on last year’s CIF Southern Section Division I championship team, had to do it with several different partners. For her, Polizois seemed like just another partner to get used to.

For Polizois, who started the year as the Sea Kings’ No. 3 singles player, it required a shift to a doubles mentality that she had never had to use before. Now the intense focus she showed during singles had to turn to smiles for her partner after a big point.

“High-fives and stuff, at first it wasn’t really happening,” Kaiden said with a laugh. “I had to teach her how to give a good high-five. She was very single-minded at first, but I think she’s definitely opened up and is so much more communicative.”

The duo eventually clicked. Now, less than two months later, they will be representing CdM at the CIF Southern Section Individuals doubles tournament, which begins today at Seal Beach Tennis Center with the Round of 16. CdM sophomores Hailey Hogan and Melissa Matsuoka are also in the draw as a doubles team.

As for Kaiden and Polizois, they’re now 51-9 combined in doubles this season, and the pairing that wouldn’t work is now 17-2 on the year. Included on their resumé is a sweep of Troy in the Division I semifinals on Nov. 15, which enabled CdM to pull off a 10-8 upset win and go back to the championship match.

Kaiden and Polizois also beat teammates Lindsay Zotovich and Karen Ishii in the Pacific Coast League semifinals to advance to CIF Individuals qualifying. Last year, it was Zotovich and Ishii who advanced all the way to the CIF Individuals quarterfinals.

The success story seems unlikely, but Ricker said he knew all along that Kaiden and Polizois had the tools to succeed. Playing with Polizois and her hard hits, the 5-foot-9 Kaiden has also become more aggressive in poaching at the net.

“When they first came together, they were trying to do everything,” he said. “I said, ‘No, girls, just do what you’re good at.’ Paige’s ground strokes are so strong, and Danielle is so big at the net. It’s a good matchup; it creates problems for opponents.”

Both players also came up big in a tough situation. Kaiden played at No. 2 doubles all her freshman year with her good friend Zotovich. But, last season, she admitted that she was frustrated at times as her partner was constantly switched.

“It was definitely weird, and kind of frustrating at times too,” Kaiden said. “It was kind of a downer. You never know who you’re going to play with, and it gets hard just trying to guess.”

This year, Kaiden opened the season playing doubles with sophomore Kelli Feeley, and that was also changed. But Kaiden said a new attitude has helped her out.

“I just came in with an open mind,” she said. “That was something my mom wanted me to do, just start over and forget about it. It’s definitely worked better.”

After all, she plays the sport because it’s fun. She saw the fun her older sister, Roxanne, had in CdM tennis during her senior season of 2004. Danielle Kaiden credits her older sister, who now plays for Chapman University, for getting her into the sport.

Polizois also had a difficult year last year, but her difficulties were caused by elbow tendinitis that caused her to miss all but two matches. It left Polizois, who had transferred to CdM after helping Laguna Beach win a CIF title as a freshman in 2005, in the awkward spot of being on the team but not really playing or fitting in.

Ricker said that all changed after the team’s trip to Fresno in September, which culminated in the Sea Kings winning the prestigious California High School Tennis Classic.

“We went to Fresno and everyone saw the other side of Paige, the fun off-the-court side,” Ricker said. “That trip helped her to become a part of the team, and her teammates to see she’s not just the serious tennis player. It even surprised me.”

More recently, though, Polizois’ tendinitis began to flare up during the Division I playoffs. It reached a peak after she and Kaiden won their third CIF Individuals qualifying match on Nov. 17 at CdM.

“My arm was hurting so bad that night,” Polizois said. “I was shocked it wasn’t hurting Monday [two days later, in the Division I championship against Dana Hills]. Maybe it was just because I was so excited for the finals.”

Even on that day, though, there were issues. Kaiden accidentally hit Polizois behind the right ear with a serve, causing Polizois to fall to the ground and eventually be taken off in a stretcher during CdM’s 12-6 loss. Polizois was released from the hospital a couple of hours later.

“I didn’t black out, but I don’t think I was totally conscious,” she said. “I couldn’t see clearly and I was just really out of it. I didn’t notice my teammates around me. But it’s almost a good experience for me and Danielle, because it brought us closer as teammates.”

And now, they’re just three wins away from playing for a CIF Individuals title.

“I’m really excited to play, because I know it’s going to be a bunch of good people,” Kaiden said. “Nervous, but nothing to lose, really.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.