The Preps : Southern Section Championships : Mater Dei Planning to Bring Its 19-1 Tennis Record to Light

If there is a dark horse in the Southern Section 4-A tennis playoffs, it’s Mater Dei High School. At this point, there’s no other way to classify the Monarchs.

Mater Dei swept to the Angelus League title and compiled a 19-1 record. Not a bad season. But when the Southern Section announced its pairings, Mater Dei was not among the seeded teams.

Mater Dei plays host to Baldwin Park as first-round play begins today at 3:15 p.m.

If the Monarchs win, they play the winner of today’s Newport Harbor-Marina match. Some reward. Newport Harbor (13-7) is seeded fourth.

Mater Dei depends on the singles play of brothers Dax and Adam Peterson. Dax, a senior, plays at No. 1 singles. Adam, a freshman, plays at No. 2 singles.

Corona del Mar, the third-seeded team in the 4-A, plays host to Nogales (17-4). Top-seeded Santa Barbara (20-0) plays host to Santa Ynez (8-12), and second-seeded Beverly Hills (14-6) plays host to Ventura (13-7).

In the 3-A, top-seeded Woodbridge (15-4) plays host to Claremont (11-8). Second-seeded Laguna Beach--led by Jon Leach, last year’s Southern Section singles champion--plays host to Esperanza (7-9). Laguna Beach is 17-3. Third-seeded Sunny Hills (18-1) plays host to Rubidoux (14-6).

San Marino, which has won back-to-back 3-A titles, is unseeded with a 17-3 record.

In the 2-A, Valencia (15-4), the Orange League champion, is fourth-seeded and plays host to Bonita (12-8).