SOUTHERN SECTION 3-A GIRLS’ TENNIS : Dana Hills Records a First With Victory in Final

Dana Hills High School, whose girls’ athletic program had not won a Southern Section title since the school opened 18 years ago, ended that drought Tuesday when the Dolphins defeated Calabasas, 10-8, for the Southern Section 3-A tennis title.

“It’s amazing it has taken that much time,” said first-year Dana Hills Coach John Stephens. “That’s what makes it that much more sweet.

“They’ve had so much desire (to win). Once we beat Capo Valley (for a share of the South Coast League title), their confidence just rose.”

Dana Hills’ doubles teams were just a notch better than Calabasas’ in the final.

“We basically knew (Calabasas’) singles were too strong to go head-to-head with, except for Anne Mall,” Stephens said. “If Anne could win two, which she did, the rest had to come from the doubles.”

Stephens was right. The Dolphins lost seven of nine singles games, but won eight of nine doubles games.

Two doubles teams went undefeated, and a third won two-of-three games. Senior Jamie Fouret paired with freshman Anna Zaricki to win, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, and senior Kelly Lynch combined with junior Christine Orcutt to win 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.