PREP PLAYOFF PAIRINGS : Girls’ Tennis : Defending 2-A Champion Valencia Tries 1-A

The Valencia High School girls’ tennis team won the 2-A division last season, dropped down a division this season and wound up seeded second in the 1-A playoffs pairings, which were announced Monday.

Valencia (14-6), the Orange League champion this season, plays host to Glenn (11-6) Thursday.

Should Valencia make a repeat appearance at the Claremont Club in the final--scheduled Nov. 22 for all divisions--it could face undefeated Corona (19-0). Corona is the top-seeded team and plays host to Whittier as play in all 5 divisions begins Thursday.

Corona del Mar (19-1) in the 4-A and Capistrano Valley (16-1) in the 3-A join Valencia as second-seeded teams. Miraleste is No. 1 in 4-A and San Marino is the top-seeded 3-A team.

Keri Phebus, a 14-year-old freshman singles player, has helped Corona del Mar win the Sea View League title and post a 19-1 record coming into the playoffs.

The Sea Kings are likely to be Orange County’s best hope for a title. However, Corona del Mar will have to get past Miraleste, which will likely gain its annual berth in the 4-A final.

The 3-A figures to be the most competitive division for county teams. Laguna Hills, last season’s runner-up to San Marino, was not given a seeded spot despite a 16-2 record. The Hawks are led by singles player Jenny Marques.

Dana Hills (14-3), the runner-up to Capistrano Valley in the South Coast League, is fourth-seeded in the 3-A.

Laguna Hills plays host to El Toro (11-8) in the opening round Thursday. Capistrano Valley, led by singles player Michelle Foster, will play host to Trabuco Hills (11-9). Dana Hills (14-3) plays host to Woodbridge (9-10).

San Marino (18-1) will play host to Camarillo (11-6).

No county teams are seeded in the 2-A division.