A trio of county girls tennis teams claimed CIF championships at the Southern Section finals Monday at the Claremont Club. Two more finished as the runner-up.

Valencia earned its third consecutive title, Dana Hills its second and St. Margaret’s its first since 2002.

The second-seeded Dolphins swept in singles to beat the last undefeated Division I squad and top seed Corona del Mar, 13-5. The Sea Kings were the only team to beat Dana Hills this year with an earlier 11-7 victory.

The Tigers won eight of nine singles sets and their doubles play provided key sets in defeating Valencia of Valencia, 13-5, in the Division III final. The Tigers were the No. 1 seed; the Vikings the No. 2.

The No. 1 Tartans narrowly avoided the upset to league rival and No. 2 Sage Hill, escaping with a 10-8 victory in the Division IV final.

“We are always great in singles,” Dolphins coach Mark Spearman said. “Our doubles stepped up this time. I have to hand it to them.”

The Dolphins No. 2 doubles team of Leyla Simmons and Victoria Wing swept. Kristina Smith’s momentum-shifting comeback at No. 2 singles in Round 1 gave Dana Hills a 4-2 lead in sets.

She trailed the Sea Kings’ Katelyn Nguyen 2-5 before pulling out the 7-5 victory.

In the Division IV final, St. Margaret’s couldn’t celebrate until No.1 doubles team Hayley Miller and Hannah Hess closed out the final set. They swept, but it was Mary Walsh and Alli Davis who saved it for the Academy League champs.

The No. 2 doubles team was behind 5-6, and faced two set points, but won in a tiebreaker. If Sage Hill won the set, they would win the match on games.

“The best thing,” Tartans coach Rick Trager said, “is the girls have so much character. They never quit.”

Two big doubles comebacks in Round 1 sparked Valencia to the Division III crown. The top team of Larissa Yates and Felicia Hsu trailed 1-5 before winning in a tiebreaker. The No. 2 team of Crystal Lee and Paulina Tran fell down 0-3 before winning 6-4.

The Tigers won the opening round, 4-2. Natalie McKay and Candace Wu swept in singles.

“They are each unique and special,” said Tigers coach Mike McCall of the three titles. “Those comebacks in doubles gave us a lot of momentum.”

• St. Margaret’s wins CIF

• St. Margaret’s and Sage Hill even at Round 2

• Tigers, Dolphins repeat as CIF champs

• Valencia CIF champs?

• Valencia, Dana Hills out front after Round 1

• Sage Hill/St. Margaret’s preview

• Division I Final preview: CdM vs. Dana Hills
• Division III final preview

• Troy’s doubles team advances

• 2 singles matches still going

• Troy advances in doubles

• Troy strikes first in doubles; singles updates

• doubles in Round 3 action

• Girls tennis updates that won’t stop
  

• Second serve from Corona del Mar

• Some girls tennis with your coffee?

• CIF individuals begin Saturday

• Valencia, Dana Hills, St. Margaret’s reach CIF finals
• Injury to key player mars Corona del Mar victory

• Corona del Mar into semfinals

• Troy eliminates Northwood

• University powers past Woodbridge

• Segerstrom’s doubles too much for Western

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