Southern Section Tennis Playoffs : University Follows Its Game Plan

University High School Coach Gary Sisel had a simple plan against Sea View League rival Corona del Mar Tuesday afternoon in a Southern Section 4-A quarterfinal tennis match at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.

“Just get out and get after them,” Sisel told his team.

The Trojans (15-2) went out and soundly defeated the Sea Kings, 15-3, to advance to Thursday’s semifinals against Miraleste, which defeated Foothill, 80-77, in games after the tying, 9-9.

The loss knocked the seven-time CIF 4-A champion Sea Kings (13-4) out of the playoffs. Corona del Mar, which lost to University twice in Sea View play, advanced to the quarterfinals by upsetting No. 3-seeded Palos Verdes last Friday.

“We’re finally getting back after all those years,” said Carsten Hoffman, University’s No. 1 singles player. “It’s a great feeling.”

Hoffman won two of three sets, losing only to the Southern Section’s No. 1-player, Mike Briggs, 6-2. He defeated Rich Sandoval, 7-6, and Doug Schulein, 6-1.

Briggs, the top ranked player in Southern California 18s, won his first two sets but had to default his third set because of soreness in his right shin.

The Trojans’ No. 1 doubles team of Paul Corkery and Mike Hart also played well, winning three sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-0.

“They’re so smooth,” Sisel said. “Both are playing with such confidence and are fun to watch.”

Sea King Coach Dave Heffern knew if the Sea Kings were to win he would have to shake up the lineup.

“Everything was a gamble,” he said. “I needed production out of my doubles teams but University’s doubles team was just too much.”

The Trojans won eight of nine doubles sets and seven of nine singles sets.

“I never expected we would get this far, but we are a solid team from top to bottom,” Sisel said.

In other 4-A quarterfinal action:

Santa Barbara 17, Edison 1--The Dons, the 4-A top seed, play Beverly Hills in the semifinals Friday.

Beverly Hills 12, Laguna Beach 6--The Normans will meet Santa Barbara after defeating the Sea View champion Artists.

In 2-A action:

Valencia 14, Canyon 4--The Orange League champion Tigers defeated the Cowboys in Canyon Country to advance to the semifinals on Thursday.