Strong doubles play helps Segerstrom capture CIF Division 5 tennis championship

Segerstrom tennis players and coaches after winning the CIF Division 5 title. (Photos courtesy Segerstrom Athletics).

Segerstrom High School’s girls tennis team had a lot to celebrate this past week.

The Jaguars defeated the top-seeded California High School of Whittier 11-7 at Claremont Club on Friday, Nov. 11 to take the CIF Division 5 championship. On the way to winning the title, Segerstrom also upset No. 2-seed Hillcrest of Riverside 11-7 and won 10-8 over Marshall in the quarterfinals.

The Jaguars also had playoff wins over Rancho Verde and Granite Hills. Segerstrom placed second in the Golden West League to qualify for the playoffs.

Segerstrom also was Division 5 champion in 2019.

The team’s latest drive to the title this season actually began in 2021 under new coach Bruce Sanborn.

“Because of only one senior, we set a two-year goal of developing a winning team, in other words, we hoped to peak at the end of the two seasons with a strong run in CIF playoffs,” he said. “The 2021 team lost many matches but learned much. It was basically the same team that played in 2021 that had a losing record.

“From the very beginning (assistant) Coach Richard (Kosai) and I strongly emphasized the development of a serve and the development of doubles teams.

“But the number one reason this team was successful in playoffs was the change in the lineup for the playoffs. I changed Kylie Wong and Lynn Hang ….. from singles to doubles.  What this accomplished, as we faced teams with stronger players at the top of their ladder, our team totaled more sets won in the doubles competition.

“Basically, we stacked the doubles and gambled that we could win just enough in singles to win the match and that is what happened. If you stack your doubles, you have a chance, so that’s what we did, we changed the lineup toward the end of the season.”

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In the finals, Ashley Lam and Brianna Hong went undefeated in five singles matches. Lam won against three different singles opponents  6-2, 6-2, and 6-1 and Hong was victorious 6-3 and 6-0

In doubles, the first doubles team of Kylie Wong and Lynn Hang swept against all three doubles opponents 6-1, 6-2, and 6-4.

The rain delayed quarterfinal match against Marshall was also a challenge, Sanborn said.

“Marshall’s three singles players dominated while Segerstrom’s doubles teams were perfect in doubles competition,” Sanborn said. “The match was in favor of Marshall until the very very very end.  Segerstrom’s doubles team (Val Franco and Jocelyne Guzman) found themselves down 3-5 in the final round but rallied to pull out a 7-5 victory. 

“Since Segerstrom only won one of the nine singles matches, this doubles win sent the Lady Jags on to the semifinals. This one set victory was the closest match of the playoffs for Segerstrom and could have gone either way.”

Sanborn said he was proud of his players efforts. He also celebrated a CIF title with the San Juan Hills boys team when the Stallions captured the Division 3 title in 2019.

“That’s not why you’re in this but it is kind of fun, the kids have a lot of fun when they can go to the championship and it kind of proves that the methods I’ve used work,” he said of the CIF titles.

But he said the focus is on the players and what they accomplished.

“They went out and did it, they’re the ones who executed it, I’m not the one playing the match, I just want to try and provide the environment and culture for them to learn and develop,” he said. “And they got to go do it. Bottom line is, they need to enjoy this time, and the glory goes to them.

“I care about the kids a lot, and I think that’s what works.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com