Daily Pilot High School Athletes of the Week: Sage’s Condas, Hung play big
The worst loss of last season for the Sage Hill School girls’ tennis team just might have provided the best experience.
The Lightning were humbled at eventual champion Arcadia last November, 18-0, in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs. But they didn’t necessarily leave the San Gabriel Valley with their heads down.
“Even though they’re a really tough school, it was my favorite moment because we went so far,” Sage Hill junior Nicole Condas said. “We’re such a small school and it wasn’t expected that we’d get as far as we did. So I was really proud.”
Condas’ doubles partner this year, sophomore Michelle Hung, nodded in agreement.
“I’d much rather lose 18-0 than win 18-0,” Hung said. “Winning 18-0 is just not interesting … it’s not as challenging and interesting as losing 18-0. In those matches, you can just see what top-level players are like and it gives you something to strive for. Maybe if we keep working hard, Sage can become as good as Arcadia, or as good as these big schools like CdM.”
It’s a mature attitude to have. Arcadia and Sage Hill were both moved up to Division 1 this season. The Apaches are ranked No. 6 in the division, while the Lightning are unranked. However, Condas and Hung have helped Sage Hill to what thus far could easily be described as a special season.
The Lightning are 14-1 entering the Division 1 playoffs, which start Wednesday. The only loss came at CdM, which is the top-ranked team in the division. Last week, Sage Hill wrapped up its second straight undefeated Academy League campaign with a 12-6 victory over rival St. Margaret’s at Saddleback College and a 17-1 home win against Crean Lutheran.
Condas and Hung, the Daily Pilot Athletes of the Week, have been a key component to the team’s success. They went undefeated in league play and advanced to the finals of the Academy League tournament. After beating Sage teammates Izzy Deckey and Morgan Mann in the semifinals, they lost to Elise Talley and Izzy Oedekerk of St. Margaret’s, 6-4, 6-1, in the championship match on Thursday. Still, Condas and Hung will advance to the CIF Individuals doubles tournament for the first time as a team. Hung made it last year as a freshman with Izzy Deckey, that duo winning league and advancing to the third round of CIF Individuals.
Sage Hill freshman Miya Stauss also advanced this year as a league singles finalist.
What has set Condas and Hung apart for first-year Coach Cierra Gaytan has been their hard work. They didn’t start the season off as doubles partners, but they approached Gaytan and suggested it.
“I said, ‘OK, let’s give it a try,’” Gaytan said. “They’re great friends outside of tennis, so I think that’s why they really wanted to try to play together this year. I think their energy works well, and yeah, they’ve been kicking butt.
“Those two have stayed after practice, and at every practice they’re always bringing it. It sets the tone for the rest of the girls, to see that these girls are doing extra and they’re so into it. It’s really fun to see. They’re going to play doubles tournaments together over Thanksgiving, and I like it. They’re setting the tone for next year.”
Next year appears very bright for the Lightning, who have no senior starters on the team. But don’t discredit what Sage Hill has accomplished this season.
There was some apprehension among team members after being moved up to Division 1, Hung said, but the Lightning have definitely handled it well.
“I think we really stepped it up to the Division 1 level,” said Hung, who’s also on the varsity girls’ soccer team at Sage Hill. “The real challenge will come in CIF, because we have to play against the top Division 1 schools. But yeah, I’m really excited. I think we’ve built up our confidence throughout the season.”
Both Condas and Hung said they got serious about tennis in the couple of years leading up to their freshman season at Sage Hill. Both were starters last year as well, when Sage Hill finished 17-3, playing in doubles but with different partners. Hung was teamed with then-senior Connie Yu.
Condas and Hung certainly get along well on the court. They’re smart girls in the classroom as well, where they’re taking a combined six Advanced Placement classes this year and both have grade-point averages above 4.0. As a doubles team, Hung is typically more aggressive at the net, while Condas provides more of the steady baseline play.
“Michelle and I have been working really hard,” Condas said. “Every time we’re out there, we really bring it, but at the same time we always have fun. We’re always laughing, even if it’s a very intense match. That’s what I love about playing with Michelle. We take it seriously, and we have a lot of focus, but there’s still that fun part because you’re playing with a friend. We’re getting better together.”
There were thoughts of putting the versatile Hung in singles this year instead of doubles, but Hung enjoys the camaraderie that comes with being part of a doubles team.
“It’s more fun and interesting, more strategic,” she said.
Former longtime head coach A.G. Longoria, who remains on staff as tournament director and program adviser, said he sees similar qualities in Condas and Hung that he had in past Sage Hill doubles standouts like Casey Astorino, Katie Bick, Ava Soleimany and Lauren Hsu. Longoria said that individually, these players are the toughest mentally of any he has coached at Sage since Sarah Geocaris, Stephanie Langer and Ashley Adams, the trio that helped the Lightning win the 2005 CIF Southern Section Division V title.
“Both Michelle and Nicole are exceptional athletes,” Longoria wrote in an email. “The other thing is how they carry the team. They handle pressure better than most. They are creative in their approach to the game, which means they will adapt their style of game to defeat you, and they love the competition more than they fear losing.”
Longoria said his goal all along was to have Condas and Hung play No. 1 doubles and anchor the team in that position. In that sense, everything is going according to plan.
There will be no easy matches in the postseason. But whatever happens, Condas and Hung will be back next year, a year wiser. They want to continue building up the program. They know that it’s a big deal for Sage Hill, a campus of around 500 students, to be in Division 1 for girls’ tennis.
“I think each year we keep setting precedents and we only keep doing better,” Condas said. “Playing the really big and very competitive schools, we definitely have a lot of pressure on us. But it’s good to have that pressure. It forces us to become better and try our best a little bit more. We have to get outside of our comfort zones. Just acknowledging that we’re able to be an opponent to these bigger schools, it’s a big deal. I think it’s really good for Sage.”
Nicole Condas
Born: April 19, 2000
Hometown: Irvine
Height: 5-foot-3
Sport: Tennis
Year: Junior
Coach: Cierra Gaytan
Favorite food: Grapes
Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump”
Favorite athletic moment: Competing against Arcadia last year in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.
Week in review: Condas and partner Michelle Hung helped Sage Hill defeat rival St. Margaret’s, 12-6, on Oct. 20 as the Lightning clinched their second straight outright Academy League title.
Michelle Hung
Born: March 12, 2001
Hometown: Irvine
Height: 5-foot-4
Sport: Tennis
Year: Sophomore
Coach: Cierra Gaytan
Favorite food: Watermelon
Favorite movie: “The Princess Bride”
Favorite athletic moment: Getting the third round of CIF Individuals last year with partner Izzy Deckey.
Week in review: Hung and partner Nicole Condas helped Sage Hill defeat rival St. Margaret’s, 12-6, on Oct. 20 as the Lightning clinched their second straight outright Academy League title.
