No Doubling Up on Los Alamitos

Those weren’t nervous smiles on the faces of Los Alamitos’ players before their Southern Section Division I final against Capistrano Valley. They were smiles of relief.

Once Los Alamitos saw Capistrano Valley would not be stacking its doubles lineup, Griffins’ doubles player Jason Wood knew his team was a step closer to its first section tennis title.

“I was happy,� he said. “We knew we didn’t have it, but we sure knew it was going to be a lot easier when they didn’t move [Robbie] Lamour and Derrick [Klunchoo] into doubles.�

And as it turned out, it was pretty easy for Los Alamitos, which destroyed Capistrano Valley’s singles lineup on its way to a 13-5 victory Wednesday at the Claremont Club. The Griffins’ No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, Kevin McQuaid and John Mano, swept their three sets and Los Alamitos’ doubles teams won seven of nine sets.

Capistrano Valley Coach Dana Bozeman said he never considered moving Klunchoo or Lamour into doubles, even though, as a team, they advanced into the round of 16 individual tournament this season.

“If I take Robbie and Derrick out of singles and put them together, we only have a chance to win three,� Bozeman said. “If I split them up, they’re playing with guys they’ve never played with.�

As it was, Capistrano Valley’s standard three doubles teams were no match for the No. 1 and 2 teams of Mike O’bradovitch and Wood, and Phil Davidson and George Canete, who swept their three sets.

“We don’t have the big names in doubles, but all our teams are solid,� O’bradovitch said.

Los Alamitos’ victory was especially gratifying for O’bradovitch, a senior who has been on the losing end of some frustrating losses in the Division I playoffs.

“We were thinking about the semifinal loss to Woodbridge two years ago when we were the No. 1 seed,� said O’bradovitch, a senior who will not play competitive tennis at UC Santa Barbara. “Finally, we did it. I couldn’t dream up a better way to end my senior year.�

Los Alamitos finished 20-2. Capistrano Valley lost for the first time in 20 matches.