Orange County Prep Tennis : Dana Hills Doubles Up University

Carlos Bustos said he was coasting Monday in his final singles match of the day against Dana Hills’ Estiban Saba.

University High School’s tennis team was leading Dana Hills, and Bustos was having little difficulty against Saba, Dana Hills’ No. 1 singles player.

So Bustos, playing No. 2 singles, said he thought the match already was won as he cruised to a 6-2 victory to give University a 9-8 lead in the 18-set match.

But on a nearby court, Bustos didn’t realize Dana Hills’ No. 2 doubles team of Jeff Meredith and Andy Taylor were defeating University’s No. 3 team of Willie Dann and Pete Bohan, 6-2, to pull the Dolphins even in sets, 9-9.

Because the match ended in a tie, the outcome was determined by games won, and Dana Hills, ranked second in Orange County, was awarded the victory, 71-70.

“I thought our doubles teams were doing better,” Bustos said. “I would have done better. . . . I thought we’d already won.”

Art Jenkins, Dana Hills coach, said he knew the match would be close.

“There was only three scores I figured, 10-8, 9-9 or 8-10,” he said. “We started this match with the idea we were going to win it in games. Everybody played for games.”

University (10-1) is the top-ranked team in Orange County and is second to top-ranked to Beverly Hills in the Southern Section 5-A. Dana Hills, 10-1 and losers only to Beverly Hills, is ranked first in the Southern Section 4-A.

Dana Hills’ doubles teams won six of nine matches, and University won six of nine singles matches.

Jenkins said he may continue with the combination of players he used Monday.

“We are very even in singles and very, very strong in doubles,” Jenkins said. “I takes a very strong team to beat us.”

The Dana Hills’ No. 1 doubles team of Gil Sanders and Neil Grover swept their three matches, 6-3, 6-0, 6-3.

University Coach Gary Sisel wasn’t too concerned about the defeat.

“Everybody tried hard,” he said. “We came up a game short. Big deal. Our goal is still the same. . . . We want to win our league and be there at the end. I think we will be.

“I knew the match was going to be tight. I liked our chances. I kind of thought we’d win the doubles, but we didn’t. I’m not concerned. . . . It doesn’t hurt in league and it doesn’t hurt the playoffs.”