CdM routs Sage Hill in ‘fun’ girls’ tennis match

There were a couple of factors that made Corona del Mar’s nonleague girls’ tennis match at Sage Hill on Wednesday not so stressful.

One was that the Sea Kings and Lightning are so familiar with each other. Several CdM and Sage Hill players who are Harbor Day School alumni took pictures together. And Sage Hill coach Cierra Gaytan is a private coach for CdM junior Roxy MacKenzie.

“It’s fun,” MacKenzie said. “It’s always a little awkward to have your coach coaching against you. It’s a weird vibe, but it’s OK, because we know everybody.”

The other reason for a laid-back atmosphere was that the match was over early. Corona del Mar dominated for the second straight match, earning a 17-1 win.

The Sea Kings (2-0) nearly backed up Tuesday’s 18-0 win against Santa Margarita by the same score. But Sage Hill (3-1) won the last set Wednesday, as the Lightning’s doubles team of senior Nicole Condas and junior Michelle Hung edged CdM’s substitute team of freshmen Reece Kenerson and Alden Mulroy, 7-5.

Another close set also happened in the last round, where CdM sub Emily Freyman beat Sage Hill’s Morgan Mann in a tiebreaker. Otherwise, it was another dominant win for the Sea Kings.

Danielle Willson swept, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 1 singles, and Annika Bassey did the same by scores of 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Kristina Evloeva won two 6-0 sets at No. 3 singles before she was subbed out.

Paulina Loredo and Shaya Northrup won twice for CdM at No. 1 doubles before they were subbed out for Dylan Matesky and Ashley Thomas, who also won. MacKenzie and Bella McKinney swept at No. 2 doubles, while Brooke Kenerson and Lauren Friedman won twice at No. 3 doubles before they were subbed out.

The lineup was a bit of a change for MacKenzie, who played singles in Tuesday’s match. But the junior, who said she wants to play college tennis, was OK with the switch by CdM coach Jamie Gresh.

“Jamie’s mixing us up,” MacKenzie said. “We’re playing doubles sometimes, we’re playing singles sometimes. I’ve got to work on everything, which is really good.”

Gresh said the level of play on Wednesday was even a bit higher than on Tuesday, which made him happy.

“Our singles was very strong,” he said. “Our doubles, I feel like we were a little bit more active at the net and playing a little bit better fundamental tennis with less double faults, more returns in play.”

CdM plays its third match in three days when it plays Mater Dei on Thursday at Los Caballeros in Fountain Valley. Sage Hill, meanwhile, hosts the Lightning Invitational tournament on Friday and Saturday.

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