PREP TENNIS ROUNDUP : Third-ranked University Beats Bad Vibes, Woodbridge

There’s nothing like using the power of negative thinking to pull out a close match.

University High tennis Coach Josh Davis said he had some bad vibes going into Tuesday’s match against archrival Woodbridge.

“We did not practice well Monday,” Davis said. “I knew this would be our toughest Sea View League match of the first round.”

Trojan senior Seth Turbow felt even worse about playing Woodbridge.

“I’m always a negative thinker,” Turbow said. “I usually expect to lose. I knew they were good.”

Fifth-ranked Woodbridge was good, but not quite good enough, losing to third-ranked University, 13 2/3-7 1/3, at Woodbridge’s North Lake Tennis Club in Irvine.

The Warriors led, 3 2/3-3 1/3, after the first round, but University (7-2, 5-0) took nine of the last 12 sets to win going away.

“Our seniors pulled us through,” Davis said. “Jason Meyers, Seth Turbow, Robbie Wilkins and Jason Maddox came through for us.”

Meyers won all three of his singles sets, 6-0, 6-0, 6-4, and Maddox won, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. But Turbow and Wilkins, who played together at No. 1 doubles, won perhaps the two biggest sets of the day.

Trailing Chris Coleman and Tom Ro, 5-4, Wilkins and Turbow came back to win the set, 7-6. Wilkins and Turbow won despite Turbow blowing three easy volleys in the tiebreaker.

“I just made sure I didn’t do anything with my racket after I missed those shots,” Turbow said. “My temper can be pretty bad.”

Turbow and Wilkins settled down to win their next two sets, 6-0, 6-2.

Woodbridge fell to 8-3 and 4-2.

“I expected it to be close, but it’s kind of frustrating coming this close and not winning,” Woodbridge Coach Joan Willett said.

“I have to give them credit. They came out really strong in the last round. I’m just glad we have another crack at them.”

In another Sea View League match:

Irvine 20, Tustin 1--The doubles teams for Irvine (5-5, 1-4) swept their sets to give the Vaqueros their first league victory. Todd Herrington and Gonzalvo Funzalida won, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. Anup Arora and Brad Thomas won, 6-2, 6-0, 6-2, and Jeff Chen and Albert Tzeng won, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. In singles, John Manley won his sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1, and Sid Khanijou won, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. Tustin is 0-5 in league.

In the South Coast League:

San Clemente 12 2/3, Mission Viejo 8 2/3--Eli Engle and Dan Roditi swept in doubles, 6-0, 7-5, 6-2, for host San Clemente (7-1, 1-0).

In the Garden Grove League:

La Quinta 17, Los Amigos 4--Thinh Tran swept in singles, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, for host La Quinta (8-1, 4-0).