1993 PREP PREVIEW / GIRLS TENNIS : Edison

Coach: Amy Beard (second year).

1992: 21-2, 14-0 in Sunset League; reached Division II semifinals before losing to Laguna Beach (9-9) by four games.

Key returners: Kelly Foster, So., will play No. 2 singles after playing No. 1 singles last year; Susie Krum, Jr., played No. 3 singles last year but will switch to No. 2 doubles this year; Brooke Lacey, Jr., will play No. 3 singles or No. 1 doubles; Michelle Turner, Sr., will play No. 1 doubles with Tami Demaree, So., who might also play No. 3 singles.

Key newcomer: Nicole Kojima, Fr., will play No. 1 singles.

Outlook: Beard lost two of her best doubles players, Katie Kelsol, who quit the team in the preseason, and Lynn Fields, who graduated. So depth and talent at doubles is a concern for Edison. But Beard picked up Kojima, who should be one of the county’s top freshmen. Kojima beat Foster, 6-0, 6-1, in a preseason challenge match to earn the No. 1 singles position. Kojima, Foster, Demaree and Lacey give Beard some strength and depth at singles. The Chargers should find out early how well they will fare, they will play in nonleague matches against Laguna Beach and Los Alamitos.

El Modena

Coach: Art Green (18th year).

1992: 14-5, 9-1 in league; lost in Division quarterfinals to Arcadia, 11-7.

Key returners: Brandi Freudenberg, Jr., reached Section individual quarterfinals and won 46 of 49 sets last season; Amy Medlin, So., should play No. 2 singles; Stacy Bush, Sr.; Shelly Smith, So., probably will team with Bush at No. 1 doubles.

Key newcomers: Holli Freudenberg, Fr., the little sister of Brandi, could challenge Medlin for a spot at No. 2 singles; Talline Kojian, Fr., could play Nos. 1, 2 or 3 doubles.

Outlook: Freudenberg, the third-ranked girls’ 16 player in Southern California, led El Modena to its first league title and the Division II quarterfinals last year. If the Vanguards’ doubles teams come through, this year’s team could be even better. “Doubles is always a challenge,” Green said. “Other than Smith and Bush, we don’t have much experience.” Holli Freudenberg, who figures to be one of the top freshmen in the county, and Medlin give El Modena a strong singles lineup.

Laguna Beach

Coach: Bob Walton (eighth year).

1992: 24-1, 10-0 in Pacific Coast League; won Southern Section Division II championship, defeating Arcadia, 12-6, in finals.

Key returners: Michelle Bray, So., defending Pacific Coast League singles champion will play No. 1 singles; Sara Cohen, So., should play No. 2 doubles; Ashlie Gravley, Sr., should play No. 3 doubles; Amanda Hastings-Phillips, recovering from a disk problem in her back, hopes to play doubles by the start of league play; Tara Kuhnert, Sr.; Ashley Smith, Sr., teamed with Smith to win the league doubles title last year; Lindsay Weiss, So., will play No. 2 singles.

Key newcomer: Vanessa Zajfen, Fr., will play No. 3 singles or Nos. 2 or 3 doubles.

Outlook: The Artists’ nonleague schedule is brutal with Capistrano Valley, Dana Hills, Edison, Newport Harbor and North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake on tap for five of their first six matches. But the competition should make an already talented team that much tougher. Walton lost only one key player, Erinn O’Connor, so expect Laguna Beach to contend for the section title again.

Los Alamitos

Coach: Debbie Fleming (ninth year).

1992: 21-1, 10-0 in league; lost to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, 11-7, in Division III finals.

Key returners: Veronica Selby, Sr. (co-captain), will play No. 1 doubles; Erin White, So., teamed with Selby last year at No. 1 doubles--the duo was named to The Times’ all-county first team--but will play singles this season; Alison Miller, Jr., will play with Selby at No. 1 doubles; Sheri Moore, Sr. (co-captain), will play doubles; Melissa Rosenthal, So., will vie for No. 1 singles spot; Michelle Schneider, Jr., is the defending Empire League doubles champion with Miller; Laura Springosky, Jr., will play doubles.

Key newcomer: Danielle Brandlin, Fr., could play No. 1 singles.

Outlook: The Griffins are trying to win their sixth consecutive league title and make their fourth consecutive appearance in a section final. Susan Huberman and Laura Westphal, two key ingredients from last year’s Division III finalists, are gone. But Fleming is confident her team can reach the section finals again. “We don’t have the experience, but we have a ton of talent,” she said.

Newport Beach

Coach: Charlie Bleiker (eighth year).

1992: 14-6, 11-3 in Sea View League; lost to El Toro in first round of Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Key returners: Mara Colaizzi, Sr., tennis elbow will sideline her early, but the 1991 league singles champion should be back for league play to contribute at singles; Genevieve Evarts, Sr., should play No. 2 doubles with senior Kim Lewis; Sarah Hawkins, Jr., won the league singles title last year; Jennifer Jacob, Sr., will likely play No. 2 singles until Colaizzi returns; Lindsay Olson, Jr., will likely play No. 1 doubles.

Key newcomers: Katie Canright, Fr., should team with Emily Barker, Fr., at No. 3 doubles; Vanessa Godbey, Fr., could play No. 3 singles or No. 1 doubles.

Outlook: Newport Harbor’s depth and talent have Bleiker excited about this season’s prospects. “We’re balanced,” he said. “You won’t be able to jump on us at third singles and third doubles. This might be our best team since 1987.” Newport Harbor should battle Santa Margarita for the Sea View League title. However, the Sailors’ post-season chances might hinge on the health of Colaizzi’s elbow.

Santa Margarita

Coach: Doug Williams (first year).

1992: 19-3, 13-1 in league; won Sea View League and reached Division I quarterfinals, losing to Santa Barbara, 11-7.

Key returners: Tiffany Blackburn, Jr., will team with Tiffany Brown, Sr., at No. 1 doubles; Tracy Keyser, So., upset Newport Harbor’s Sarah Hawkins, the Sea View League singles champion, over the summer and will play No. 1 singles; Lisa Paulsen, Sr.; Noel Saduddin, Sr.; Megan Scanlon, Sr., will play No. 2 doubles with Saduddin; Anna-Marie Scutetta, Jr., will play third doubles with Paulsen.

Key newcomers: Ashley Jensen, Fr., will step in at No. 2 singles; Jessica Pierog, Fr., will play No. 3 singles; Katie Letherby, Fr., could fit in at doubles.

Outlook: Improved Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor teams should make it difficult for Santa Margarita to repeat as champions in the tough Sea View League. But Williams is high on his doubles players, who all are returning from last year. Weak spots could be Nos. 2 and 3 singles, where Williams is counting on freshmen to come through.