FALL ’88 ALL-COUNTY TEAMS : GIRLS’ TENNIS : After Fast Start, Phebus Will Try for Perfection

Keri Phebus of Corona del Mar High School made her first season of high school tennis a special one.

She helped the Sea Kings win the Sea View League and Southern Section 4-A championships while playing in the No. 1 singles position. And to top it off, Phebus won the Southern Section singles championship, the first Orange County girl to win the title.

Having done all that in her freshman season, where does Phebus go from here?

“It’s kind of hard to beat,” said Phebus, The Times’ tennis player of the year. “I’ll just keep going. Next year, hopefully I’ll go for an undefeated record. I couldn’t really do more than what I did this year, though.”

The only setbacks Phebus suffered this season were to Kim Po of Miraleste. Phebus compiled a 53-2 record. Po, who beat Phebus in a nonleague match and again at the 4-A team title match, was considered the favorite to win this season, but chose not to defend her title. Phebus defeated Nicole Hummel of San Marino, 6-1, 7-5, for the championship Dec. 1.

“She’s the best freshman I’ve ever seen,” said Corona del Mar Coach Dave Heffern.

Heffern has coached a number of fine players--including Danielle Scott, who was The Times’ player of the year last season. Scott, now a freshman playing No. 2 singles at the University of Arizona, was the Southern Section singles runner-up last year.

“They’re totally different,” Heffern said. “Danielle started late and kept improving. Keri came in with national championships and (had been) ranked No. 1 in the 12s.”

Despite the individual titles Phebus has won, she said the season’s highlight was winning the team title by upsetting Miraleste.

She gave up a chance to play at the national indoor championships in Detroit to play in the 4-A championship match.

“I didn’t go to the national indoors, and that’s going to affect my ranking,” Phebus, 14, said. “I could have gone into the top 10 (in 16-and-under). I didn’t want to let down the team. I knew if I wouldn’t have been there we wouldn’t have a good chance to win.”

Said Heffern: “She’s a great team player. She got more excited about (winning the 4-A team title). She’s won a lot of individual titles already in her life. She wanted to win real badly with her sister still on the team.”

Keri’s older sister, Kristy, played with Robin Bain at No. 1 doubles for the Sea Kings.

“She’s a special girl, a very special girl,” Heffern said of Keri. “I’m worried she’ll turn pro before she graduates.”

FIRST TEAM

Singles Kristen Green Sr. Dana Hills Keri Phebus Fr. Corona del Mar Jeanette Fylpaa Fr. University Doubles Michelle Foster Sr. Capistrano Valley Page Bartelt Fr. Kristy Phebus Sr. Corona del Mar Robin Bain Sr. Kellie Thompson Sr. Fountain Valley Stephanie Urricariet Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Singles Jenny Marques Jr. Laguna Hills Tracy Crisell Jr. Marina Lisa Alipaz Soph. Canyon Doubles Michele McFarland Jr. Corona del Mar Courtney Strauss Jr. Nikki Turner Jr. Edison Tracy Goedecke Sr. Kelly Lynch Jr. Dana Hills Heather Bolton Jr.