TENNIS PLAYOFFS : La Reina Holds Court, Reaches Section Final

The last time La Reina High played a tennis match at North Ranch Country Club, the Regents upset top-seeded South Hills in the 1994 Southern Section Division V semifinals then went on to win the championship.

So when Coach Pat Henjyoji learned her team was to play host to second-seeded Rancho Cucamonga in this year’s semifinals, she made a concerted effort to have her girls play at North Ranch again.

They did, and the third-seeded Regents had little trouble in knocking off the Cougars, 13-5, in a chilly fog Thursday to advance to Saturday’s division final at Claremont against Rim of the World, which beat Nordhoff, 11-7.

“We were hoping, ‘Just please let us play there,’ ” said Henjyoji, whose team usually plays home matches at Cal Lutheran.

The Regents’ No. 1 doubles team of Catherine Chien and Vicki Hull, who have a 44-1 record this season, swept their three sets by 6-0 scores.

“It was challenging,” Chien said with some sarcasm. “We’re just a come-from-behind team.”

Heather Szabo and Katie Bradley also swept for the Regents at No. 2 doubles, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.

“Those two doubles teams really give us a boost,” Henjyoji said.

About the only problem for La Reina (13-2) was freshman Kelly Ramirez at No. 1 singles for the Cougars (16-2). Ramirez, ranked 27th in the Southern California Tennis Assn.’s 14-and-under age bracket, dominated with accurate power strokes in sweeping by identical 6-1 scores.

Kristin Dickey, Lauren Dickey and Kristy Bear each won their two other singles sets for La Reina with little difficulty. Dickey finished off Cassanora Kosarik, Rancho Cucamonga’s No. 3 player, in under 20 minutes.

“We really expected this match to be a lot closer,” Henjyoji said. “Their players hit the ball very nice in warmups. The best hitters we’ve seen all year.”

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Villa Park 9, Calabasas 9--Shervin Saedinia and Suzy Meyer lost a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5), at No. 2 doubles for the Coyotes that gave the Spartans (20-2) a 71-70 edge in games and a victory in the Division II semifinals.

“It feels horrible,” said Coach Bob Holycross of Calabasas (17-3). “It’s a big disappointment.”

Shera Wiegler was leading, 3-2, in her final singles set before Faye Devore of Villa Park (20-2), ranked second in the SCTA 16-and-under bracket, came back to win, 6-4.

Holycross strengthened his doubles by moving Kirsten Gross, his No. 3 singles player, to doubles. Gross and Veryan McKay swept their sets, but freshman Elyse McKay, who replaced Gross in singles, failed to win a game.

“This was a tough match to lose but a great match to be in,” Holycross said.

Rim of the World 11, Nordhoff 7--Stacey Roberts won three singles matches but the Rangers (14-9) fell in a Division V semifinal.

Roberts was 50-16 this season--12-0 in the playoffs.