Southern Section Tennis : University Goes Deep for Semifinal Win

After University High School defeated Palos Verdes, 10-8, in a Southern Section 5-A tennis semifinal match at University Thursday, Trojan Coach Gary Sisel called his team together for two things.

First, his congratulations. The top-ranked Trojans (22-1) advance to the tournament’s final against second-seeded Santa Barbara, Wednesday, at a neutral site to be determined.

Second, a scolding. Though University played well enough to win, Sisel was disappointed in some of the players’ attitudes--especially after taking a 5-1 first-round lead.

“Some of them got a little complacent,” Sisel said. “They got it going real fast at first, then kind of lost sight of their competition. But, heck, I’ll take a win any way I can.”

Which, in this case, meant relying on what’s kept University strong all season--its depth.

Though Carlos Bustos, Richard Stillwagon and Carsten Hoffmann fell to Palos Verdes’ No. 1 singles player, Peter Sampras, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1, there were enough other victories to make up the difference.

The Trojans’ No. 3 doubles team, Peter Bohan and Willi Dann, swept all three sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. Bohan and Dann scrambled for many points. The two were definitely the exception to their coach’s postmatch reprimand.

Shawn Wainwright and David Le managed to overcome the Sea Kings’ John Reed and Tim Kopania, 7-4, in a first-set tiebreaker. But they were then beaten in the next two sets, 6-3, 6-3.

The Trojans’ top doubles team, Jeff Kizer and Steve Lappin, sliced through Danny Peters and George Paul, 6-0, in the first set, but then lost, 7-5, 6-4.

In singles, Bustos came back from his 6-0 loss to Sampras to defeat Jason Taylor, 6-0, and Art Hsieh, 6-1.

Hoffmann was the only Trojan to take a game from Sampras, a sophomore who finished 51-0 in team play. Hoffmann won his other two sets, 6-2, 6-0.

Stillwagon was probably the most overworked Trojan in the match. After defeating Taylor in a first-set tiebreaker, 7-5, he was beaten by Sampras, 6-0, and then lost in another tiebreaker to Hsieh, 7-5.

“I think everyone played well,” Sisel said. “But there were too many close ones. I know any time it boils down to the semis, it’s a pressure situation. The next time we get ahead, we’ll play better.

Palos Verdes finished 17-3.

In the other 5-A match:

Santa Barbara 10, Corona del Mar 8--In the deciding set, Brian Maher defeated Marshall Solomon in a tie-breaker, 7-6, lifting the Dons to their 73rd straight victory. Had Maher lost, Corona del Mar would have won the match on games. The Dons, who have won the last two 4-A championships, move into Wednesday’s 5-A final against University. Corona del Mar’s Mike Briggs ended his high school career with a three-game sweep, improving his season record to 54-0. Santa Barbara is 23-0 and Corona del Mar finished 18-5.

In 4-A matches:

Dana Hills 11, Foothill 7--The Dolphins (20-0) swept the doubles matches at Dana Hills to move into the 4-A finals. Doubles partners Neel Grover and Stan Sanders won their matches, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0, to improve to 63-3. Gavin Fenske and Estaban Saba both beat Foothill’s Tony Waterman to provide the Dolphins with their only victories in singles.

Servite 10, Capistrano Valley 8--Jeff Belloli swept No. 1 singles, 6-2, 7-6, 6-1, to help the Friars hold off the Cougars at Anaheim Tennis Center. Servite (19-3) meets Dana Hills in Wednesday’s 4-A final.

In a 3-A match:

San Marino 10, Los Alamitos 8--Andrew Sheppert swept his singles matches, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, to propel the Titans to a victory in the 3-A semifinals at San Marino. The Titans were also boosted by the doubles team of Sid Danenhauer and Hoon Park, who won their three matches, 7-5, 6-3, 6-0. San Marino improved to 23-2, while Los Alamitos (24-1) lost its first match of the season.

In a 2-A match:

Valencia 12, South Hills 6--Danny Yu swept No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, and the Tigers’ top doubles teams cruised through 2-A second-round action at Valencia. Minh Ai and Eric Flint swept No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6. Charles Lee and Colin Robinson won their doubles matches, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6. The Tigers improved to 23-1.