CdM doesn’t follow formula against Uni

IRVINE — The Corona del Mar High boys’ tennis team knew what was needed coming into Tuesday’s Pacific Coast League showdown at University.

The Sea Kings’ formula hasn’t exactly been a secret this season.

CdM Coach Tim Mang knows his team needs sweeps from junior Fabian Matthews at No. 1 singles, as well as from the doubles teams of sophomores Parker Rhodes and Chris Damion, and seniors Ryan Caughren and Dustin Hladek.

“There’s no guessing,” Mang said. “We don’t have a lot of flexibility. Our top five players have got to sweep.”

But CdM didn’t get that kind of production in a 12-6 loss at Uni, which keeps the Trojans, ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division I, in the driver’s seat for the league championship.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 4, will get a chance to salvage a share of the title when the teams play again next Tuesday at CdM.

This time around, Caughren and Hladek swept their doubles sets, accounting for half of the CdM set wins.

“I’m just glad that we kept our record,” Caughren said. “Last year, we won [against Uni] in straight sets, [6-0, 6-0, 6-0]. We haven’t lost against this team. We were definitely confident, because we had that sweep from last year, and it showed.”

Rhodes and Damon also got a pair of hard-fought, 6-4 wins at No. 1 doubles for CdM. But the Sea Kings (15-2, 6-1 in league) only won one more set, when Matthews topped Uni’s John Huang, 6-3.

He uncharacteristically lost his first match of the day to the Trojans’ Matt Siow, 6-4.

“I know the formula, with Fabian having to sweep us and their doubles having to win,” Uni Coach John Kessler said. “[Siow’s win] was major. I think it set the tone for the match.”

Matthews was down 5-2 in the set before hitting some highlight-reel winners to pull within 5-4, but Siow held serve to win.

“I didn’t start off very well,” said Matthews, who will team with Hladek in the CIF division at the Ojai Valley Junior Tournament beginning Thursday. “I haven’t played in three or four days, because I’ve been busy with catching up with school and studying for AP exams. I played all right, but Uni’s a really good team.”

By the time the second go-round was complete, the Trojans (14-2, 6-0) had an 8-4 sets lead.

Pacific Coast LeagueUniversity 12, Corona del Mar 6 -- Matthews (CdM) lost to Siow, 4-6, def. Huang, 6-3, (sub) Vu (CdM) lost to Lin, 0-6; Kim (CdM) lost, 3-6, 0-6, 0-6; Peyton (CdM) lost, 1-6, 1-6, 0-6.

Singles

Doubles -- Damion-Rhodes (CdM) def. Lepage-Tang, 6-4, lost to Masaki-Vaidyanathan, 4-6, def. Tran-Sun, 6-4; (sub) Mehr-Buchert (CdM) lost, 1-6, Pham-Corum (CdM) lost, 2-6, 2-6; Hladek-Caughren (CdM) won, 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.