PREP GIRLS’ TENNIS PLAYOFFS : Freshmen Key Dana Hills’ Victory Over Santa Margarita

Santa Margarita didn’t have quite enough firepower to upset second-seeded Dana Hills, losing, 12-6, Friday in the first round of the Southern Section Division I girls’ tennis playoffs. But the Eagles got some balls over the net and gained some respect, which is more than they accomplished last year in an 18-0 loss to Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Trailing, 8-4, after the second round, Santa Margarita Coach Doug Williams said: “We’re not winning, but four is a lot better than zero.”

The Eagles (11-9), who made the playoffs for the second consecutive year as a wild-card team, never seriously threatened Dana Hills (16-3), the South Coast League champs. They trailed, 5-1, after the first round and won only two of nine singles sets.

“We had to get six or seven points in doubles for us to win,” Williams said. “We knew we had to have No. 1 and No. 2 doubles sweep.”

But Santa Margarita’s Nos. 1 and 2 doubles teams of Tracy Keyser and Anna-Marie Scutetta and Tiffany Blackburn and Jessica Pierog each won two of three sets.

The key for Dana Hills was the play of its three freshman singles players: Lara Spica, Summer Tantee and Margaux Pierog. Spica and Margaux Pierog swept their sets and Tantee won one of three.

“Our No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams struggled, but we got through and that’s what counts,” Dana Hills Coach John Stephens said. “The freshmen played well. (Friday) wasn’t our best effort.”

Stephens said he didn’t expect to be seeded second, figuring the nod would go to Corona del Mar, which was seeded third.

“I was surprised,” Stephens said. “But now we have to show we deserve it.”

The Dolphins will have to show more in the quarterfinals on Tuesday against Camarillo (16-2), which defeated Oxnard Rio Mesa, 14-4, and has two of the section’s top singles players.