Revenge factors

Joseph Boo

CLAREMONT - Even though Peninsula High’s girls tennis team hasn’t

lost to Newport Harbor in three years, the Panthers still remember the

pain they felt in 1996 as the two teams prepare for their CIF Division I

championship showdown at the Claremont Club, beginning at 9 a.m. today.

In the regular season that year, the Sailors defeated host Peninsula,

13-5, to snap the Panthers’ 120-match winning streak.

Peninsula later got revenge by defeating Newport Harbor in the finals,

but the loss still stings for the Panthers.

“We’ll be talking about that,” Peninsula Coach Tom Cox said. “The seniors

went through that trauma in ’96 as freshmen. They still remember it.”

Newport Harbor senior Kristen Case, who was a freshman on the Sailor team

that beat Peninsula in ‘96, was miffed.

“They’re still (ticked) off about it?” she said. “Well, we’re (ticked)

off they beat us in the finals.”

If the seniors are going to avenge 1996, the last time Newport Harbor

reached the finals, then the Sailors have to show better than in

September’s 11-7 loss to Peninsula, when they dropped all nine doubles

sets and 54 of 71 games. That was Newport’s only loss in a 19-1 season.

The Panthers’ doubles players - Nikki LaBrucherie, Christine Setian,

Christie Tjong, Caitlin Blashaw, Cheyne Ursich and Jamie Pagliano, are

interchangeable in the lineup and have been dominant for a 24-0 team that

has won seven of the last eight Division I finals, including last year.

“Doubles is obviously our strength,” Cox said.

“I was shocked we beat them in doubles like that last time. I think it

would be pretty optimistic for us to hope that happens again.”

Cox believes Newport Harbor has since found its best lineup and will

provide a tougher challenge, and Sailors Coach Fletcher Olson promises

the same thing.

“We’re going to match up better with them this time.” she said. “We’re

going to make some adjustments.”

The most impressive doubles pair for the Sailors has been Case and senior

Jenny Meyer, who have been dominant as the No. 1 doubles team for the

Sailors after coming together midway through the season.

“I feel confident with her,” Case said about Meyer. “We play well

together.”

Three other members of Newport Harbor’s heralded freshman class in ’96

are key members on, arguably, Orange County’s deepest team. Amanda

Collopy has spent most of the season on the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles team.

Sarah Barker and Allison Schneider have anchored the middle of the

doubles lineup, along with sophomore Megan Hawkins.

Just as the key for Newport will be doubles, Peninsula has to win a

couple of sets from Newport Harbor’s singles players. In the last

meeting, Newport Harbor sophomore Natalie Braverman and senior Audra

Adams romped over the Panthers, winning all six sets handily.

For the second half of the season, Braverman, Adams and senior Chelsea

Godbey have comprised one of the best singles lineups in the Southern

Section.

“Singles is their strength,” Cox said about Newport. “Last time, Natalie

and Audra really beat us.”

Peninsula only has one singles player, sophomore Shilpa Joshi, who can

match Newport’s power in singles. But Joshi has been bothered by a sore

wrist.

Peninsula’s other key singles player is another impressive sophomore,

Colby Comstock, a light, but accurate hitter who has a knack for keeping

the ball in play. Nevertheless, she was overpowered by Braverman and

Adams in their previous meeting, 6-3 and 6-1.

“We have to steal a couple of singles sets, “ Cox said. “Just like they

have to win a couple on doubles.”

Olson agrees. “It works like that on both sides. Our singles played very

well, so we’ll make it tough on them.”

And with both teams looking to break through the other’s strength, Olson

promised one last thing.

“It will definitely be a cat fight.”