Corona del Mar Wins a Lackluster Match

Something was missing from the Corona del Mar-Woodbridge boys’ tennis rivalry Thursday, and it wasn’t only Woodbridge’s four players.

“It wasn’t the same feel,” Woodbridge senior Adam Artunian said. “We were never really in the match, so there wasn’t much excitement.”

One of the most exciting moments came late in Corona del Mar’s 14-4 Sea View League victory when a Corona del Mar player called for a line judge in a doubles match.

“No, the excitement wasn’t there,” Corona del Mar Coach Tim Mang said. “I was excited at the beginning of the match because I wasn’t sure how my doubles would do. The singles were pretty predictable.”

One of the more unpredictable sets came early when Artunian squared off against junior Parker Collins, in a battle of No. 1 singles. Artunian grabbed the first game and had four game points to go up, 2-0, but Collins came back to take the game and the momentum. Artunian played well enough to win, but he served eight double faults and had trouble finishing points at the net. Collins won, 6-3.

“Parker played well,” Artunian said. “I knew I’d have to sweep for us to have any chance.”

Collins’ victory gave Corona del Mar a 5-1 lead after the first round. The top-ranked Sea Kings (10-0, 3-0) won seven of nine points in singles and doubles. Artunian captured both singles points by beating junior Sameer Chopra, 6-4, and Brian Morton, 6-0. Woodbridge No. 2 singles player Ali Kermani retired during his first set after straining a shoulder muscle. He defaulted his other two sets.

Corona del Mar and Woodbridge have had some classics, and Mang said Thursday might have been another one if fourth-ranked Woodbridge (7-4, 2-1) had its entire cast.

Seniors Chase Exon, Brandon Shainfeld and Greg Levy and junior David Lingman are not playing because of a conflict with Coach Joan Willett over practice time with their private coach. Levy and Shainfeld did find time in their practice schedule to attend Thursday’s match.

“Heck yes, we’d like those guys to be here,” Mang said. “It would have been a heck of a match. Probably a CIF final-type match.”

Willett, whose team has won the last two Southern Section Division I titles, said Corona del Mar has an excellent chance to win this year’s title.

“They’ve had their superstars, but you don’t win a Division I title with one star,” she said. “You have to have depth to go all the way. They’ve got it this year.”