Sailors, Lightning play in key league matches today

First place in league will be on the line for the girls’ tennis teams from Newport Harbor High and Sage Hill School today at 3 p.m..

Newport Harbor will try to stay ahead of the pack in the Sunset League. The Sailors (13-3, 6-0 in league) will play host to Los Alamitos, which has one lost in league and took Newport Harbor to games the last time the teams played Oct. 7 at El Dorado Park.

Coach Kristen Case’s Sailors came out ahead, 83-72, after the 9-9 tie.

Newport Harbor’s chance to win league increased when senior Nelly Radeva joined the team earlier this month. Radeva, bound for UC Berkeley, has helped lead the Sailors in their six-match winning streak in league.

Sage Hill, led by junior Julia Blakeley, will try to deal unbeaten St. Margaret’s its first loss of the season today at San Clemente Tennis Club. Blakeley swept at No. 1 singles, winning 18 out of 18 games, when the Lightning (13-4, 5-1) lost to their rivals, 10-8, Friday.

Sage Hill enters the match ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division IV. The Tartans are ranked No. 1 in CIF Division IV.

— From staff reports