CdM gets leg up in league

IRVINE — As the sun set, westward-looking fans had to strain their eyes to catch the action in Wednesday’s girls’ tennis match between Corona del Mar and University high schools.

But there was nothing new to see. In the Pacific Coast League, Corona del Mar continues to shine brightest.

The Sea Kings continued their strong play by sweeping all nine doubles sets in a 15-3 victory over the Trojans, at University High.

Most of the scores weren’t too close in those doubles sets. They ranged between 6-0 and 6-2, except for a 6-4 victory by juniors Melissa Matsuoka and Azadeh Nazemi in the final match of the day. The No. 1 pairing of Karen Ishii and Kelli Feeley, as well as the No. 2 duo of Danielle Kaiden and Lindsay Zotovich, also swept.

Neither pairing has lost a set so far this season.

“They’re older, they’re more seasoned, they’re smart,” University Coach John Kessler said. “I was happy the way we played. I don’t think we played badly at all. They’re just better. You’ve got to call it like it is — they’re just better ... [The score] was pretty much exactly what I thought it would be.”

Both teams are top five in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, CdM at No. 2 and University at No. 5. But Corona del Mar started four seniors Wednesday, while the Trojans started just one.

The difference was evident, as the Sea Kings (8-0, 3-0 in league) already appear to be well on their way to a 10th straight league title.

Matsuoka, who played mostly singles last year, was playing in her second match after missing the start of the season with a wrist injury.

“I love playing with Melissa,” Nazemi said. “She’s so nice. Even though we haven’t really played together before, I feel like we know each other’s games. We play off each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“... She’s building back slowly, but she’s playing as if she hasn’t been off.”

The Sea Kings were also relatively strong in singles against the Trojans (6-1, 1-1), who were missing freshman phenom Kendall Heitzner to illness. Freshman Katelyn Nguyen swept at No. 3 singles for CdM, by impressive scores of 6-0, 6-1 and 6-1.

Senior Paige Polizois won two of three sets and junior Elizabeth Nguyen won the closest set of the match, a 7-6 (7-3) victory over University junior Shanuki Tillekeratne.

“I started slow,” said Polizois of her first-round loss to Elika Fateri, who accounted for two of the Trojans’ three set wins. “But I just tried to block that out and play my best the next two sets. I’m trying to stay more consistent in how I play.

“I didn’t really know who the [University] girls were in singles, but we played really well. This is a good win. This is supposed to be one of our hardest matches, but the score turned out well.”

It’s the middle of a challenging stretch for Corona del Mar, which hosts its two-day All-American Tournament beginning Friday. The Sea Kings play the California Academy of Math and Science on Friday at 11 a.m. in the first round at CdM.

Then, next Wednesday, they’re at home for an anticipated nonleague matchup with defending Division I champion Dana Hills. The Dolphins are also currently the top-ranked team in Division I.

“We’re just going to have to keep playing well, I guess,” Nazemi said. “The next week is going to be our toughest week so far. We have to stay focused and keep doing what we always do. We just have to stay calm.”

Kessler, for one, doesn’t think that will be too big of a problem.

“If we have Heitzner, we get maybe one or two more in singles,” said Kessler, whose team will take on CdM again Oct. 28 on the Sea Kings’ courts. “We know what we have to work on.

“We’re not catching [CdM] this year. We’re just not.”

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 15, University 3

Singles – Polizois (CdM) lost to Fateri, 0-6, def. Dawson, 6-2, def. Tillekeratne, 6-1; (sub) Beyer (CdM) lost, 0-6, E. Nguyen (CdM) lost, 3-6, won, 7-6 (3); K. Nguyen (CdM) won, 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles – Ishii-Feeley (CdM) def. Yu-Lin, 6-0, def. Miller-Scott, 6-1, def. N. Radmehr-S. Radmehr, 6-1; Zotovich-Kaiden (CdM) won, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0; Nazemi-Matsuoka (CdM) won, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.

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