SOUTHERN SECTION TENNIS PLAYOFFS : University Reaches 4-A Final by Handing Dana Hills Its First Loss

The University High boys’ tennis team stunned Dana Hills in a Southern Section 4-A semifinal, defeating the previously unbeaten Dolphins, 89-78, in games after the teams tied, 9-9.

With Dana Hills ahead, 9-8, University’s Joey Frantz beat Dana Hills’ Kurt Bruggeman to boost University (22-1) to the tie in the match at the Racquet Club of Irvine on Thursday.

Frantz, who swept his singles matches, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4, led Bruggeman, 5-3, in the day’s last match before Bruggeman broke back, bringing the score to 5-4. Then Frantz quickly won the match at 6-4. Frantz, a senior, wasn’t aware that he needed the victory for University to have a chance at winning.

“I had no idea,” Frantz said. “I just wanted to win and I was hoping it went our way.

“I knew it was real close, but I had to focus on what I was doing instead of the team. “We were underdogs and we came out ahead. I can’t feel any better.”

Dana Hills (21-1), ranked second in the 4-A, had problems in singles, winning only two of the nine sets. Coach John Stephens said that before the match, he thought the doubles matches would decide the outcome. He was wrong because Dana Hills’ top singles player, Ben Stevens, who before Thursday had lost only three sets, dropped all three of his matches.