PREP TENNIS : Palos Verdes Peninsula Girls Win Fourth Title in a Row

Top-seeded Palos Verdes Peninsula captured its fourth consecutive Southern Section Division I girls’ team tennis title by defeating Corona del Mar, 17-1, Tuesday morning at the Claremont Club.

But Peninsula Co-Coach Tom Cox claims his team is not the power it once was.

“This was the fewest nationally ranked players I’ve ever had,” Cox said.

Peninsula’s Amanda Augustus, Amanda Basica and Kerry Giardino are ranked in the top 10 nationally in their respective age groups.

Augustus, the No. 1 singles player, led the Panthers (24-0) by easily winning her three matches, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0.

While some might find competing against such a formidable lineup intimidating, Megan Wactler, Corona del Mar’s No. 1 singles player, did not complain.

“I see it as a great opportunity,” said Wactler, whose team finished 18-5. “Its a chance to play against some of the top girls in the country. You know going in that your chances are slim, but you do your best. I think I played well today.”

With the victory, Peninsula improved its four-year winning streak to 96 matches.

In other matches:

Division II--Laguna Beach won a third consecutive title by defeating Los Alamitos, 12-6. The Artists relied on the strong play of the doubles team of Sarah Cohen and Vanessa Zajfen.

Division III--In a close match, Placentia El Dorado was unable to win a fifth point in the doubles play and lost to Pasadena Poly, 9-9 (79-76 in games).

Division IV--Palm Desert was led by its No. 1 singles player, Staci Smith, in its victory over Brentwood, 11-7. Smith won her matches, 6-2,6-2, 6-1.