Girls tennis: Sailors fall to Peninsula

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - In what might me a CIF finals preview, Peninsula

High, ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section knocked off No. 4 Newport

Harbor High, 11-7, Tuesday at Newport Harbor.

“Both teams played great today,” Sailors Coach Fletcher Olson said.

“Peninsula has just an overwhelming team, from top to bottom.”

Especially overwhelming was the play of Peninsula’s doubles teams,

which won all nine sets against the Sailors (4-1).

According to Peninsula’s coach, Tom Cox, it’s always a little special

to defeat Newport Harbor after what happened just over three years ago.

“I still haven’t forgotten,” Cox said, referring to the Sailors’ 14-4

upset of the Panthers on Sept. 19, 1996, snapping Peninsula’s 122-match

winning streak. “I know that the seniors on our team who were freshman

back then still remember, as well.”

For the Sailors, strong singles play from Sophomore Natalie Braverman

and senior Audra Adams kept Newport Harbor in the match.

Braverman, who had not lost a set going into the match, and Adams, who

had lost one set, continued their impressive totals, each winning three

straight.

Things started slowly for Braverman in her first set against Jeannine

Liang. Neither player won her serve in the first six games, before

Braverman got into her groove to win, 6-3.

“I was a little nervous,” Braverman said “With everyone watching and

who we were playing, it took me a little while to get focused and into my

zone.”

After jumping out to a 5-2 lead against Shilda Joshi, Braverman saw

her lead turn into a 5-5 tie, before taking the last two games, 7-5.

From there, Braverman went on to overpower Colby Comstock in her third

matchup, 6-3.

“She is an amazing player,” Olson said. “She has some unbelievable

power out there.”

Olson was very happy with the aggressive play of Adams, who went to

the CIF finals in doubles a year ago and looks to return in singles play.

Olson knocked off the Peninsula threesome of Liang, Comstock and

Joshi, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3.

“She’s in great shape and she really moves the ball around the court

well,” Olson said. “Audra has made it her job to be No. 1 on our team in singles play and with her hard work and dedication, she’s right up

there.”

Adams also sees a change in her play from last year.

“I really wanted to bring up my singles play,” Adams said. “I wanted

to play a more aggressive style of tennis, instead of playing defensive.

Offense wins.”

Newport Harbor’s other point came from Kristen Case when she knocked

off Liang in the final match of the day, 6-1.

Both coaches believe their teams have the firepower to meet again in

the CIF playoffs.

“We’re a tough team,” Adams said. “We know we can do it. We can’t play

scared out there, especially against them.”

Next up, Newport Harbor travels to play at Capistrano Valley today at

3 p.m. before hosting Irvine in Thursday’s league opener at 3:15 p.m.

NONLEAGUE

Peninsula 11, Newport Harbor 7

Singles: Braverman (NH) def. Liang, 6-3, def. Comstock, 6-3, def. Joshi,

7-5; Adams (NH) won 6-1, 6-2, 6-3; Case (NH) won 6-1, lost 0-6, 2-6.

Doubles: Godbey-Meyer (NH) lost to Ursich-Blashaw, 2-6, lost to

Setian-Tjong, 0-6, lost to Pagliano-Brucherie, 2-6; Barker-Schneider

(NH), lost 4-6, 3-6, 0-6; Collopy-Hawkins (NH) lost 2-6, 0-6, 2-6.