Power surge

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - Natalie Braverman’s tennis rackets summed up

Newport Harbor High’s tennis team. She went through four rackets during

Tuesday’s match against University, breaking the strings with monstrous

swings. That was just indicative of what the No. 1 girls tennis team in

Orange County can do to its opponents. The entire Newport Harbor team

followed through and powered past the Trojans, 17-1, at Newport Harbor.

The Sailors’ limitless depth was evident as they got sweeps from

Braverman, Audra Adams and the entire trio doubles teams. The most

impressive performance was from the third doubles team of Sarah Barker

and Alison Schneider, who won their three matches 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.

The most dramatic match, though, came from Kristin Case at No. 3 singles.

In her second match, Case found herself down, 2-5, against Amy Kim and

facing match point at 15-40. She then pulled off an improbable comeback

and forced five tiebreakers before falling, 10-12. After a set that

almost lasted an hour, Case could barely stand upright.

“After I found myself down 2-5 and 15-40,” Case said, “I kept pushing

myself. I found myself in a tiebreaker. By the end, I felt completely

faint, but I still put out all the effort I could.”

“We got a great point from Amy,” University Coach Ingrid Bruder said.

“Those kind of matches are definitely entertaining.”

After the grueling match, Case wanted to play her last one, but Newport

Coach Fletcher Olson decided she had enough. Kim played her last match

against Braverman. After falling behind 3-0, Bruder and Kim decided to

retire.

Despite a slow start, Braverman was overpowering. After falling behind to

Edell Bugescu 2-1, she unleashed her powerful two-handed swings, spraying

shots all over the court and frustratingBugescu. Braverman won five

straight points to win, 6-2. She beat Megan Biorkman 6-3 in her second

match.

Newport Harbor’s No. 2 singles player, Audra Adams, easily beat Kim and

Biorkman by the identical scores of 6-1 before gutting out a close win

against Bugescu, 6-4. Case won her first match against Biorkman 6-4 to

give the singles team the first seven matches.

Newport Harbor’s doubles team was even more impressive. Besides the

dominating performance by Barker and Schneider, the reunited team of

Chelsea Godbey and Amanda Collopy pounded their first two opponents, 6-2,

6-1, before squeaking by in their last match against Kristen Tam and Alex

Aswad 7-5.

“We brought back the doubles team of Collopy and Godbey from their

freshman year,” Olson said. “And they played well today.”

Finally, the second doubles team of Jenny Meyers and Kelly Nelson swept

through their three matches, 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3. All three doubles team

overwhelmed their opposition with great net play, strong overheads and

some nifty acrobatic shots. A huge overhand volley by Meyers that smacked

Tam in the leg pretty much summed up the whole match.

“We were competing against the No. 1 ranked team,” Bruder said. “And we

got one legitimate point. We played pretty well.”

“We looked excellent,” Olson said. “We played well and showed some good

stuff.”

Newport Harbor 17, University 1 Singles: Braverman (NH) def. Bugescu, 6-2; def. Kim 3-0 (retired); def.

Biorkman 6-3; Adams (NH) won 6-4, 6-1, 6-1; Case (NH) (retired), lost

10-12, won 6-4.

Doubles: Godbey-Collopy (NH) def. And. Aswad-Wilson, 6-2; def. Al.

Aswad-Tam, 7-5; def. Lee-Kim, 6-1; Meyer-Nelson (NH) won 6-1, 6-2, 6-3;

Barker-Schneider (NH) won 6-2, 6-1, 6-1.