Doubles play helps CdM girls’ tennis get past Laguna Beach
The Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis team has played nine matches this season.
CdM coach Jamie Gresh said he has used nine different lineups.
“We do a lot of doubles in practice, and we play a lot of sets, so I’m able to see how different partners form and different circumstances play out,” Gresh said. “We’ve just got to be able to be flexible with each other and play the best team lineup for the opponent we’re playing that day.”
Doubles usually seems to work out for the Sea Kings. Corona del Mar won eight doubles sets, posting an 11-7 home win over Laguna Beach in a Sunset Conference crossover match.
Senior Jane Paulsen and junior Cate Montgomery swept at No. 1 doubles for the Sea Kings (6-2), while seniors Sydnee Spirlin and Sara Miller swept at No. 2 doubles. Seniors Lena Pham and Katie Barnes won twice at No. 3 doubles, before they were subbed out.
None of the doubles wins was particularly close, with scores ranging from 6-0 to 6-2. Only the Breakers’ No. 1 pairing of Chloe “Cree” Gagne and Laea Chesley could earn a win in the third round against a CdM substitute team.
Gresh has a versatile lineup this year. Paulsen and Montgomery could easily slot into singles spots, while juniors Lauren Jones and Shea Tomac — who played singles on Tuesday — could play doubles in any given match.
“You’re trying to find the right combinations, the right pairings,” Gresh said. “Our doubles girls performed well today. We won eight out of nine, which we needed today, and we swept their No. 3 [singles player]. It was a good collective overall team effort. Laguna Beach always presents a problem, because they do have three good singles players, although just two were here today.”
Senior Sarah MacCallum and her younger sister, sophomore Jessica MacCallum, both swept in singles on Tuesday for Laguna Beach (2-3). But Katelyn Smith, another standout singles player, missed the match. Breakers coach Rick Conkey said she also missed the team’s previous match, against Huntington Beach on Sept. 23, with a back injury.
Sienna Brooks, Jones and Tomac easily swept the Breakers’ replacement at No. 3 singles.
Conkey was still pleased. He said his doubles players have improved, despite Tuesday’s result.
“They’re in better position, they’re getting their serves in, their attitudes are better,” he said. “Moving into [the Wave League] and CIF, I think we’re looking good.”
It’s a senior-heavy lineup for the Sea Kings, who have five senior starters. Paulsen, who has started since she was a freshman, said that has been enjoyable.
CdM edged University 9-9 (74-73 on games) on Sept. 8, its first victory over its former Pacific Coast League rival since 2017.
“It’s our senior year, so we’re just trying to have a lot of fun here,” Paulsen said. “It’s our last time in high school tennis, so we want to make it count … I think we’re still figuring things out, but we’re doing pretty well.”
Huntington Beach (7-0) is the defending Surf League champion, but CdM wants to try to get its title back. The teams play twice in league, on Oct. 12 at Huntington Beach and Oct. 21 at CdM.
“They’re a really good team,” Paulsen said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but hopefully we’ll perform our best.”
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