SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS : Phebus Repeats as Singles Champ

Keri Phebus’ serve and volley game mirrored her concentration during the Southern Section singles tournament final at the Racquet Club of Irvine Friday.

When Phebus, a sophomore at Corona del Mar High School, was tuned in, she was unbeatable. When her mind wandered, she nearly let the match slip away to Anne Mall of Dana Hills.

She maintained her mind control well enough to take a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory for her second consecutive singles championship. Phebus finished the season without a loss and hasn’t been beaten in high school competition since she lost to Kim Po of Miraleste in the 4-A team title match last year.

In the semifinals, Phebus again defeated her friend Page Bartelt of Capistrano Valley, this time 6-1, 6-2. Mall advanced by beating Nicole Hummel of San Marino, 6-1, 7-6.

“The person that won the match was going to have the best concentration,” Phebus said after Friday’s final. “We both floated in and out.”

Both players had their moments of brilliance.

Phebus was masterful early in the match. “I played a flawless first set,” Phebus said. “I couldn’t make a mistake.”

Mall could only shrug while watching one powerful shot after another land just out of her reach.

“I knew I wasn’t going to win,” Mall said say later. “I just tried to get the ball back and be more aggressive.”

In the second set, Mall’s aggressiveness, combined with Phebus’ loss of concentration, got Mall back into the match.

“I liked the way I played in the second set,” Mall said. “The second and third sets I played some good points.”

In the third set, Phebus held serve, then broke Mall for a 2-0 lead. Her concentration seemed to be back. Mall pulled even at 2-2, but Phebus was simply too strong.

“I made a few too many errors,” Mall said. “She just played a great match.”

Phebus said Mall’s strong backhand gave her some troubles. “It’s the best backhand I’ve ever seen,” Phebus said.

She said Mall’s strong serve wasn’t a problem, that it actually helped her. “I just blocked it and it put more pace on my returns,” she said.

“This is better than last year,” Phebus said, “because (then) I was an underdog and no one knew who I was. This year, you go into the season and everybody expects you to win.”