Sunny Hills Knocks Off University

Fourth-seeded University was supposed to be favored over fifth-seeded Sunny Hills. But Sunny Hills, which has won three Southern Section titles in the last five years, had tradition, motivation and a better team.

The Lancers won in a walk, 13-5, Tuesday at the Racquet Club of Irvine, and advanced to the Division II semifinals for the sixth consecutive year.

“The kids liked the idea that they were thought of as underdogs,” Sunny Hills Coach Steve White said. “The seniors brought that up before the match.”

The seniors, John Han and Shaun Harris, came out strong in the first round and led the rout. Han won his first set, 6-2, over University’s No. 2 player Jon Biorkman. Harris and his doubles partner, freshman Davin Lin, won their first set, 6-3, over David Roh and Joey Freedman.

“When you see how well the older guys are playing, there’s no pressure on the younger guys,” White said.

By the end of the first round, Sunny Hills led, 5-1, and deflated any hopes University had of winning.

“I knew the kids were up,” White said. “Their mind-set was great. They were as ready as I’ve seen them this year.”

University’s No. 1 singles player, Chris Seid, the only Trojan to win two sets, said he expected a better performance from his team.

“I knew Sunny Hills was a great team and I thought we’d have to play well,” said Seid, a senior who has been playing with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff. “But I didn’t expect this.”

Seid, playing his last high school match, defeated Shail Vyas, 6-0, Han, 6-4, and lost, 7-6 (7-5), to Sunny Hills junior Chris Chung, who swept at No. 3 singles.

Lin and Harris also swept for Sunny Hills as did sophomores Jon Choi and Tuji Chang. After two rounds, Sunny Hills led, 9-3, and had clinched the match.

The Lancers (16-4) figure to face a tougher test in Thursday’s semifinals against North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, which eliminated Sunny Hills last year in the semifinals.

In another Division II match:

San Marino 13, Aliso Niguel 5--Second-seeded San Marino had little trouble beating Aliso Niguel, which finishes 17-4.

In Division I:

Corona del Mar 13, Dana Hills 5--Taylor Dent swept at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0, to lead third-seed Corona del Mar (19-2). Teammates Boris Turkich and Reza Jahangiri swept at No. 1 doubles for the Sea Kings, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

Woodbridge 9, Beverly Hills 9 (Woodbridge wins on games, 84-75)--Woodbridge trailed, 8-4, entering the final round, but won five of six sets, including two, 7-5, to upset fourth-seeded Beverly Hills.

Reza Farokhpay won his third-round set, 7-5, and Brent DeSaxe and David Lingman won their final doubles set, 7-5, for the Warriors (19-4), who play top-seeded Santa Barbara in the semifinals.

In Division III:

Calabasas 9, Brea Olinda 9 (Calabasas wins on games, 88-80)--Matt Snowden swept at No. 1 singles for Calabasas (16-5), 6-1, 6-0, 6-0. The second-seeded Coyotes play the winner of Carpinteria Cate-San Luis Obispo.

Hein Ta and Tony Lin swept at No. 1 doubles for Brea Olinda (23-2-1), 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.