Girls tennis: Sailors open playoffs strong

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Harbor High girls tennis team took its

first step toward avenging the lone loss of the season against Peninsula

High with an 18-0 win over visiting Glendora in the first round of the

CIF Southern Section Division I Playoffs Thursday afternoon.

“We’re not looking ahead; we’re taking them one game at a time,” a

cautious Coach Fletcher Olson said afterward. “But obviously we would

like an opportunity to eventually play Peninsula again in the playoffs.”

Amanda Colopy and Sarah Barker, playing as a team for the first time

all season lost only two games in their three-set sweep.

On the singles side, No. 3 player, sophomore Kelly Nelson won, 6-0,

6-2, 6-0 for the Sailors (16-1).

“I played all my sophomores who were here today,” Olson said. “It was

a great opportunity to gain some valuable playoff tennis experience for

the future.”

The Sailors, seeded No. 2 in CIF-SS Division I behind Peninsula will

next play Saturday against the Lynwood-Arroyo Grande winner in

second-round action at a site to be determined.

Whoever the opponent, Olson is excited about where her team is both

physically and mentally.

“They’re ready to play,” she said. “We’re really coming together well

as a group.”

CIF-SS DIVISION I FIRST ROUND

Newport Harbor 18, Glendora 0

Singles: Adams (NH) def. Sudan, 6-1, def. Berg, 6-0, def. Banos, 6-0;

Godbey (NH) won, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0; Nelson (NH) won, 6-0, 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles: Myer-Case (NH) def. Hathi-Sw. Mohan, 6-0, def. Orlino-Si.

Mohan, 6-0, def. Eusebid-Chudasama, 6-0; Collopy-Barker (NH) won, 6-1,

6-1, 6-0; Hawkins-Buder (NH) won, 6-2, 7-5, 6-1.