CdM girls’ tennis is No. 2 seed in Division 1

It has been a big year in the Newport-Mesa area for girls’ tennis, with Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, Sage Hill and Estancia all boasting their strongest squads in years.

CdM, Newport Harbor and Sage Hill went a combined 48-4 in the regular season, and three of the four losses were to each other.

The next season begins Wednesday, as the Sea Kings and Sailors will vie in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs and the Lightning and Eagles compete in Division 2.

There were no big surprises when the brackets were released Monday. Corona del Mar (17-1), the Pacific Coast League champion, received the No. 2 seed in Division 1 and begins with a home match Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday’s wild-card match between Dos Pueblos and South Pasadena.

Sunset League champion Newport Harbor (17-1) will play host to Palm Springs, the No. 3 team from the Desert Valley League, on Wednesday in the Division 1 first round.

Academy League champion Sage Hill (14-2) received the No. 3 seed in Division 2 and will play host to Hart at The Tennis Club, as Hart defeated Calvary Chapel in a wild-card match Tuesday.

Estancia (14-5), which finished in second in the Orange Coast League, plays at Sea View League champion San Juan Hills in the first round.

All matches are scheduled for 2 p.m.

Costa Mesa (10-9) which finished fourth in the Orange Coast League, applied for an at-large berth to the Division 2 playoffs but didn’t get in. There were no at-large spots available in any division.

CdM accomplished its first season goal by winning league for the first time since 2009. Now Coach Jamie Gresh’s Sea Kings want to get to the CIF title match for the first time since 2008 after losing in the semifinals each of the last two seasons, both times to eventual champion Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Peninsula, which is again the top seed in Division 1, beat CdM 12-6 in a nonleague match Sept. 22. But the Sea Kings earned the No. 2 seed after beating No. 3-seeded Mira Costa, 11-7, on Oct. 14. Should they get past the first round, they would play either Oaks Christian or Redondo Union in the second round.

The Sea Kings are led by a strong singles lineup of sophomore Danielle Willson, junior Jasie Dunk and senior Siena Sharf, as well as junior Camellia Edalat and senior Erica Chen at No. 1 doubles. Dunk and Sharf teamed to win the league doubles title last week, while Willson was a finalist in singles.

Newport Harbor, which won league for the first time since 2011, also has had a strong season. The Sailors’ only loss was to CdM in the Battle of the Bay match, 13-5.

The Sailors, who finished No. 7 in the final Division 1 coaches’ poll, could meet CdM again in the Division 1 quarterfinals if they can get past Palm Springs and likely second-round opponent San Clemente. The Sailors beat San Clemente, 11-7, in a nonleague match on Sept. 14.

Senior Jenn Kingsley leads the Sailors at No. 1 singles, as well as seniors Kendall Cosenza and Anna Burke at No. 1 doubles. Both were finalists at the league tournament to qualify for CIF Individuals for the first time.

Like Newport Harbor, Sage Hill has only lost to other Newport-Mesa teams. But the Lightning have run off 14 straight wins since losing to CdM and Newport Harbor in the first week of the season. They captured the league title after finishing second to rival St. Margaret’s last season.

Sage Hill’s doubles team of sophomore Isabella Deckey and freshman Michelle Hung won the league doubles title last week, with Stephanie Beder and Lauren Fishman placing third. Kayla “Cat” Kiani and Jaclyn Gerschultz are also strong singles players for the Lightning, who have not made the CIF finals since 2011 in Division 3.

Estancia finished outright second place in league for the first time since 2008. Senior co-captains Kinley Ohland and Eden Steel lead the Eagles, led by first-year Coach Kendra Fisher.

Foothill League champion Valencia of Valencia is the top-seeded team in Division 2, and Pacific League champion Arcadia is the No. 2 seed.

Second-round matches in each division are scheduled for Friday, with the quarterfinals on Monday.