PREP TENNIS ROUNDUP : Dana Hills Continues Early Run

The Dana Hills boys’ tennis team hasn’t won a Southern Section title in six years and hasn’t reached the section finals in four years. But if the Dolphins’ nonleague play is any indication, both streaks might be ending this season.

Dana Hills improved its record to 7-0 with a 17 2/3-3 1/3 victory over Trabuco Hills Wednesday in Dana Point. The Dolphins won eight of nine doubles sets and seven of nine singles sets.

“We knew we were going to be in a match,” Trabuco Hills Coach Craig Orr said. “We saw who they had played and what they’d done against them. I told the kids that a boxer never prepares for a fight not expecting to get hit. I told them this is a 20-round bout.”

The bout ended early for Trabuco Hills (2-4), which fell behind by 11 points before it could win a set.

“I thought it would be a little closer,” Dana Hills Coach John Stephens said.

Stephens also thought his team would have at least one loss by now, considering the strength of the schedule. But the Dolphins have beaten such powers as Corona del Mar, University and Newport Harbor, traditionally strong Sea View League teams.

“I felt like the opportunity was there for us to start out this well,” Stephens said, “but with our schedule, the likelihood was shaky.”

The Dolphins’ nonleague schedule doesn’t get any easier. Next week, Dana Hills plays Punahou, the No.1-ranked team in Hawaii, and undefeated Woodbridge.

“If we could beat those teams, that would be a tremendous start,” Stephens said.

Anything is possible, especially if Stephens continues to get consistent singles play from No. 1 Erik Lunblad, who won two of three sets Wednesday and No. 2 Brandon Fallon, a freshman who won three sets Wednesday, including a victory over Trabuco Hills’ No. 1 player Nolan Cooper.

The Dolphins’ doubles teams also have been strong. Mike Baxi and Justin Rimel and David Bailey and Christian Spaulding did not lose a set against Trabuco Hills.

“They’re solid from top to bottom,” Orr said. “All nine players are capable of beating you.”