Peninsula Is Doubles Trouble for Woodbridge

Woodbridge knew going into Thursday’s Southern Section Division I semifinal playoff match against Palos Verdes Peninsula that it would have to play virtually flawless tennis to have a chance at upsetting the top-seeded Panthers.

But it was Peninsula that was nearly perfect in a 15-3 victory over the fourth-seeded Warriors in Palos Verdes.

“We had a pretty good match in beating Corona del Mar (an 81-79 victory on games this season),” Peninsula Coach Tim Cox said. “But we played even a step higher today.”

Peninsula (22-1) took a 5-1 lead after the first round, and secured the victory in the second round.

The loss ended Woodbridge’s hopes of winning its third straight division title.

“We knew it would be difficult, but we thought we had a chance,” said Woodbridge senior doubles player Tyler Call. “We needed sweeps from our No. 1’s [singles and doubles], and needed some other people to pick up the slack.”

The Warriors (17-6) won only one of nine doubles sets. Peninsula doubles teams lost only seven games in their eight victories.

Adam Artunian, Woodbridge’s top singles player, won one of three sets, defeating Ray Choi, 6-3.

Ali Kermani captured Woodbridge’s only other singles set, beating Choi, 7-5.

Earlier this year, Woodbridge won five singles sets and two doubles sets in a 11-7 loss to Peninsula.

“They were the better team today,” Woodbridge Coach Joan Willett said. “Especially in doubles. Their doubles teams played a lot better than they did last time.”