Lightning appear capable of a carbon copy

Not too many coaches brag about their team’s schedule.

But Sage Hill School girls’ tennis coach A.G. Longoria happily points out that his team only plays against Division I competition in nonleague matches.

The Lightning are the defending CIF Southern Section Division V champions, but a move up to Division IV has brought a heightened focus on scheduling to secure a critical top seed.

Longoria also said highly touted teams are coming in from Las Vegas and Australia to face Sage Hill. The Lightning will play host to two invitational tournaments this year and for the second consecutive year were invited to compete in Corona del Mar’s All-American Tournament, which features teams from all over the country.

“Last year we were the first Division V team to play in it,” said Longoria, who is in his sixth year at Sage Hill. “Now we’ll be the first Division IV team to play in it.”

The Lightning will play host to defending CIF Division I champion Laguna Beach and Longoria could not be more excited. And then there are future matches against Division I semifinalist Corona del Mar and perennial power Mater Dei.

“We play the very best people because we want to get ready for the playoffs,” Longoria said. “We expect our season to go right up until before Thanksgiving. I know we’ll be the team to beat and that teams will be gunning for us.”

The target on Sage Hill’s back was magnified by the return of its top three singles players and five of its top six doubles players.

“It is the deepest and most experienced team we’ve had,” Longoria said. “We have a great group of sophomores and freshmen we’re going to try to give some playing time to.”

Hogging most of the time in singles will be three players rotating into the top spot. Senior Sarah Geocaris returns as the Academy League Most Valuable Player, but it was senior Stephanie Langer who won the league individual singles title.

Junior Ashley Adams finished third, losing to Langer in the semifinals.

All three went undefeated in league dual matches last season and Longoria said Langer and Geocaris have averaged 60 wins a season.

“I expect them to break all kinds of records,” Longoria said.

And the Lightning are equally strong in doubles. The senior duo of Allie Hsu and Erica Spivack return as the top doubles team after earning league doubles MVP honors based on record.

But it was seniors Carissa Cummings and Salen Andrews who won the league doubles championship.

Sophomore Jaclyn Smrecek, probably the fourth-best singles player, could team up with either Cummings or Andrews.

Her partner is still up in the air because Smrecek broke her shoulder in a snowboarding accident in January.

The shoulder is healed but recently Smrecek found out she had broken her right wrist as well, keeping her out until early September.

Filling in for Smrecek and competing for the sixth doubles spot will be sophomores Laney Tucker, Nandi Shaw, Allison King and Isia-Marie Taskman, as well as freshman Dominique Moore.

“It’s going to be a tossup,” Longoria said.

With all the returners, it did not take long for the Lightning to start talking repeat.

“It was brought up at the awards banquet,” Longoria said.

The Lightning has four goals for its season: win a league title; win a section title; finish the season ranked in the top 10 overall; and win at least half of its matches at the All-American tournament.

“I think winning [the section title] a second time will be a little bit harder,” Longoria said.

Sage Hill opens its regular season Sept. 7 when it will hit the road to face Calvary Chapel.

THE LIGHTNING

Sarah Geocaris Sr.

Stephanie Langer Sr.

Ashley Adams Jr.

Allie Hsu Sr.

Erica Spivack Sr.

Carissa Cummings Sr.

Salen Andrews Sr.

Jaclyn Smrecek So.

Laney Tucker So.

Nandi Shaw So.

Allison King So.

Isia-Marie Taskman So.

Dominique Moore Fr.

Coach: A.G. Longoria

(sixth year)