April 25, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Top-seeded University girls tennis team goes for CIF open division title Friday vs. Campbell Hall

University’s girls tennis team poses for a picture after one of the Trojans victories. (Photo courtesy University tennis)

The top-seeded University’s girls tennis team will go for the CIF Open Division championship when it takes on No. 2 seeded Campbell Hall Friday morning at 10:45 a.m. at the Claremont Club.

“The girls have had a great year and in some ways, quite unexpected,” said University Coach John Kessler. “The girls won the PCL, with a record of 10-0 for the first time in four years. The girls were also undefeated in non-league play.

“In the PCL individuals, Cami Brown became the first Uni girl to win the PCL singles title.  Mya Wang and Emily Markus won the doubles title, the first for Uni since 2013,” Kessler said.

The CIF post-season format was different this year with the top eight teams in the open division. However the No. 7 and No. 8 teams were asked to move to Division 1, so there were only six teams in the open division, Kessler explained,.

“Uni and Campbell Hall both received a bye into the semi-final round,” the coach said.

The semifinals between University and CdM on Wednesday was a rematch from an earlier non-league match which Uni won 11-7.

“The teams were tied 3-3 after one round,” Kessler said. “Junior Cami Brown defeated Janey Marcus and Dana Feng defeated Ashley Thomas in singles. In doubles, Mya Wang and Emily Markus defeated CdM’s top team 6-0.

“In round two, Uni won two double’s sets, freshmen sensation Jane Lee won her match 6-0 and Cami Brown defeated Kristina Evloeva 7-6 to give Uni a 7-5 advantage. In the final round, Cami Brown completed the sweep at No. 1 singles, Wang and Markus also swept at first doubles and Jane Lee defeated senior Janey Marcus to clinch the match for the Trojans.”

Now University will go for the title against Campbell Hall, which it has met numerous times in the playoffs over the past 10 years, Kessler pointed out.