PREP BOYS’ TENNIS / SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II : University Shuffles Its Lineup, but Palm Desert Wins Easily

A mild surprise arrived early when University announced the rotation for its Division II quarterfinal boys’ tennis match against Palm Desert. After that, things unfolded as expected.

Second-seeded Palm Desert needed little help in dominating play en route to a 14-4 victory Tuesday at the Irvine Racquet Club. However, with University’s Chris Seid moved from singles into No. 3 doubles, it made things that much easier for Palm Desert’s highly regarded singles players.

With the switch, University Coach Ivan Boyer all but conceded a sweep for Palm Desert’s singles, but the move enabled the Trojans’ doubles teams to make the result closer.

Seid teamed with Raja Kapadia for only the second time this season and they were able to take two of three sets from Palm Desert.

After getting University’s first point by defeating Chris Kocek and Brock Berry, 6-4, in the opening set, Seid and Kapadia earned the Trojans last point with a 6-1 victory over Tyler Zundel and Brian Battistone.

The Trojans’ top doubles team of Min Lee and Felix Ling also won two of three sets.

Lee and Ling, who are 58-10 this season, got past Zundel and Battistone, 6-3, and finished off with a 6-3 victory over Kocek and Berry.

In Lee and Lings’ opening set against the Aztecs top pair of Brad Berry and Dan Battistone, they briefly rallied from a 5-1 deficit but were finally beaten, 6-3.

“They came up with the big shots when they needed to win,” Lee said. “We played them tough, but they were a little too strong.”

University’s best shot a getting a victory at singles came with Ross Ellis facing Palm Desert’s Clint Stephenson. However, Stephenson came back from a 4-3 disadvantage and earned a 7-5 victory.

Palm Desert (23-0) will face third-seeded Foothill in the semifinals Thursday. In other Division II quarterfinals:

Foothill 11, Riverside Poly 7--Ryan Thompson and Joost Hol each swept in singles, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, and Rob Claus and Lance Stern won, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1, in doubles for third-seeded Foothill (21-1), which will take on second-seeded Palm Desert (18-1) in the semifinals.

Sunny Hills 15, Villa Park 3--Joseph Gilbert swept at No. 1 singles, 7-6, 6-0, 6-0, to lead top-seeded Sunny Hills (22-2). Teammates Chris Chung and Jeff Hartl swept at No. 1 doubles, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1.