Girls’ Tennis: Sage up in Division 1

It’s something to be proud of, even if it might be a little bit scary.

The Sage Hill School girls’ tennis team is in CIF Southern Section Division 1 this year for the first time in program history.

Not only that, but the Lightning have a new head coach. A.G. Longoria, who has coached the team since the program began, still is on the staff as tournament director and program adviser. But now it’s CdM girls’ tennis alumna Cierra Gaytan who is in charge.

Gaytan, 24, was a sophomore on the 2006 Division 1 champion CdM team that went undefeated. She played college tennis at Texas and Missouri and was hired at Sage Hill late in the summer.

“Coming in, I think the girls were at first a little nervous about the new coach,” Gaytan said. “It was like, tryouts and then the season. It’s a lot on them, but they’re having good attitudes. It’s good. Maybe going into Division 1, they were a little bit nervous, but I feel like now they’re confident in themselves and their games. Their confidence is building and building and building.”

A 3-0 start will do that. The Lightning defeated Santa Margarita, Mater Dei and Laguna Beach this week. They play next at Gaytan’s alma mater of CdM on Wednesday.

Sage Hill, the defending Academy League champion, does appear primed for another strong season with seven returning starters. They include league doubles champions Isabella Deckey and Michelle Hung, who advanced to the third round of CIF Individuals, as well as No. 1 singles player Kayla “Cat” Kiani. The Lightning made it to the Division 2 semifinals last season.

Gaytan said the team also is proud of playing on-campus for the first time. The Lightning’s tennis center, which cost approximately $5 million, opened in March.

Sage Hill Girls’ Tennis

League: Academy

CIF Division: 1

Head Coach: Cierra Gaytan (1st year)

Coaching Staff: Brynn Boren (assistant coach), Whit Kenerson (assistant coach), Mark Jones (JV coach), Amy Ray (frosh-soph coach).

2015 overall record: 17-3

2015 league record: 10-0 (champion)

2015 CIF results: Reached semifinals

Returning starters: Seven

Returning with honors: Isabella Deckey (league doubles champion, Jr.); Michelle Hung (league doubles champion, Soph.).

Coach’s Take: “These girls are some of the hardest working girls that I’ve ever met. Their spirit and their work ethic, I love it, so I know they’re more than capable of handling [CIF Southern Section] Division 1.”

One to Watch: “Maya Byrd, a junior, always plays singles and she’s a lefty. I feel like she’s going to become a three-dimensional player this year and learn to embrace singles and doubles.”

Schedule

August

30 - Def. Santa Margarita, 12-6

31 - Def. Mater Dei, 10-8

September

1 - Def. Laguna Beach, 17-1

7 - at Corona del Mar

9-10 - Lightning Invitational tournament, TBD

15 - Tesoro

16-17 - Prep Classic tournament, TBD

20 - at St. Margaret’s* (Saddleback College)

21 - JSerra (3:30 p.m.)

23 - at Oxford Academy*

27 - Whitney*

28 - at Newport Harbor (3:30 p.m.)

October

4 - at Crean Lutheran*

7 - St. Margaret’s*

11 - Oxford Academy*

14 - at Whitney* (Cerritos Sports Complex)

21 - Crean Lutheran*

25-26 - Academy League tournament, TBD

*denotes league match

*All matches 3 p.m., unless noted