Southern Section Tennis Playoffs : Phebus Gets a First for the County : Corona Del Mar Freshman Wins Twice to Take Singles Title

Keri Phebus won the Southern Section Individual singles championship Thursday, something no girls’ tennis player from Orange County had done since the tournament began in 1971.

Phebus, from Corona del Mar High School, defeated Nicole Hummel of San Marino, 6-1, 7-5, at the Racquet Club of Irvine.

Michelle Foster and Page Bartelt of Capistrano Valley won the doubles title, 6-2, 6-4, over Shawn Egan and Michelle Deasy of South Torrance. Foster and Bartelt are the first county team to win the doubles title since 1981, when Kathy and Sue O’Mera of Estancia won.

Phebus, Hummel and Bartelt are freshmen. Foster is a senior.

Phebus had little trouble winning the singles title, especially because Kim Po of Miraleste chose not to defend her title.

In Po’s absence, Phebus faced little resistence. In the semifinals, also played Thursday, Phebus breezed past Kirsten Smith of Thousand Oaks, 6-1, 6-4.

In the final, Phebus seized command and, though her concentration faltered in the second set, never let it go.

“I’d say that was the most determination and the best concentration I’ve had all year,” said Phebus, who finished her freshman season with a 53-2 record (her only 2 losses were against Po). “In the second set, she got me on the defensive and she was playing really well.”

Hummel stayed close in the second set but at 5-5, Phebus broke her serve and then held serve for the match.

Though they won the doubles final easily, Foster and Bartelt faced a more difficult road to the championship match.

They trailed Melissa Kaiser and Erica Hanson of Miraleste in the semifinal, 4-0, in the third set, but rallied for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory.