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OC Varsity ~ High school sports talk by the staff of the Orange County Register

Girls tennis: Top 10 individual performances of 2008

December 17th, 2008, 12:14 pm · · posted by

These aren’t necessarily listed in order, but these are the moments I remember the best.

(Feel free to add yours in the comment section below)


1. Mary Walsh and Alli Davis (St. Margaret’s): The Tartans No. 2 doubles team trailed, 5-6, in the final round of the team’s CIF championship match agains Sage Hill. They overcame two set points and won in a tiebreaker to give the Tartans the title. Had they lost, Sage Hill would have won the crown.

2. Brynn Boren and Kristina Smith (Dana Hills): During the regular season they were the Dolphins best singles players. They teamed up for doubles for third consecutive postseason and reached their third straight CIF-SS championship match, the first pair to do so.

3. Kaitlyn Christian (Orange Lutheran): The Orange Lutheran junior lost last season in the semifinals of the CIF-SS individual singles tournament.  She avenged that loss this year in the semifinals, beating Lakewood’s Stacey Tan, before falling in the final against La Quinta’s Pam Montez.

4. Joanna Smith (Dana Hills): Just a sophomore, Joanna Smith earned the respect as a player to watch for the next two years. The Dana Hills singles player made the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS individuals singles tournament, where she lost to Ontario Christian’s Britney Sanders in three sets. Sanders is ranked No. 6 in the USTA girls 18 and under division.

5. Krista Hardebeck (El Modena): The freshman stepped on the scene in a major way in 2008. She reached the Round of 16 in the CIF-SS individual singles tournament, where she lost to Orange Lutheran’s Kaitlyn Christian in three sets. Christian was the No. 3 seed.

6. Jennifer Cornea (Loara): The Empire League singles champion earned that distinction by beating Valencia’s Sarah Blair in the final in three sets. Cornea became the first Saxon to earn a perfect season, the league MVP and singles title in the same season.

7. Natalie McKay and Candace Wu (Valencia): The Tigers No. 2 and No. 3 singles players helped their team win its third straight CIF title, but made their make in doubles as well. Playing in the CIF-SS individual tournament, the duo made the quarterfinals, one of two county teams to reach the final eight.
To get there, the pair rallied down 1-5 in the third set in the Round of 16 against Palm Desert. Wu and McKay advanced by winning the third tiebreaker.

8. Larissa Yates and Felecia Hsu (Valencia): The Tigers No. 1 doubles team trailed 1-5 in the first round of the team’s CIF championship match against Valencia of Valencia. They rallied and won the set in a tiebreaker, helping Valencia take a 4-2 lead after Round 1.

9. Karen Ishii and Kelli Feeley (Corona del Mar): The Sea Queens No. 2 doubles team beat teammates Danielle Kaiden and Lynsday Zotovich in the Pacific Coast League finals. Ishii and Feeley handed their teammates their first loss of the season.

10. Melissa Matsuoka (Corona del Mar): Injured for some of the season, Matsuoka beat Ocean View’s Tiffany Mai in three sets to advance to the CIF-SS singles Round of 16. Mai was ranked higher than Matsuoka in the USTA’s girls rankings.

Will any of these moments make the overall fall sports lists? Keep checking ocvarsity.com to find out.

Posted in: Girls Tennis
 
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  • A Lightning Fan says:

    I would like to commend you on a good job of recapping the Top 10 performances. My eldest daughter was involved in that electrified match against St.Margaret’s and we just happen to talk about it for the first time since it happen this past weekend. But, I am proud to say that this dissapointment has given her the motivation to improve in her personal USTA rankings and a drive to return to the CIF finals. Thanks for the memorires but man oh man this one stings (smile)

  • A Lightning Fan (cont) says:

    Although this lost stung….what was worse..the two young ladies, Mary Walsh and Alli Davis. These young ladies are the most sweetest , well mannered ,respectful, individuals you can come across in life let alone on a tennis court. The three times I watch them play against my daughters I was so torn due to the enjoyment of how the girls play the game and this thing called parenthood (smile). Good luck to you Mary and your teammate as your head off to college it was a joy meeting you young lady. (smile) Papa B

  • A Lightning Fan:

    Thanks for responding.

    Sometimes I wish there didn’t have to be a player(s)/team(s) that had to lose.

    When I played tennis, I was always more motivated by a loss than any victory.
    Sounds like your daughter is the same way.

    Best of luck to you.

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