PREP GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYOFFS : Corona del Mar Doubles Teams Score Victory Over San Marino

Two down and two to go.

That’s the score card for the Corona del Mar girls’ tennis team, which Tuesday moved closer to a third consecutive Southern Section Division 4-A title with a 13-5 victory over visiting San Marino.

The Sea Kings (20-2) pulled out what was a close match in the singles sets by winning eight of nine doubles sets.

Corona del Mar will play Dana Hills in the semifinals Thursday.

The Sea Kings were led in doubles by its No. 1 team of Courtney Strauss and Michelle McFarland, and the No. 3 tandem of Erika Anhood and Marcie Asch.

Strauss and McFarland took their sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, and Anhood and Asch won theirs 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.

In singles, Corona del Mar’s top player, Keri Phebus (No. 1 nationally in the 18-and-under division), won, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, to increase her unbeaten streak this year to 18 sets.

Nicole Hummel and Michelle Kong, the No. 1 and 2 singles players for San Marino (20-2), won two of their three sets. They both lost only to Phebus.

“I’m pretty pleased with the win,” said Corona del Mar Coach Gary Salazar. “San Marino traditionally has a very strong team.”