HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW : AT A GLANCE / Girls’ Tennis

* The Proven: Newport Harbor has never won a Southern Section title, but this could be the year the Sailors break through. Coach Fletcher Olson returns 11 players--seven seniors--from a team that lost to Dana Hills in the Division I quarterfinals. Sophomore Natalie Braverman had a huge summer in junior tennis, seniors Audra Adams and Kristen Case were finalists in the Southern Section individual doubles tournament last season, and senior Jenny Meyer is a returning first-team All-Sea View League player. The key to the Sailors’ season will be how the bottom of the lineup performs in big matches.

* The Promising: University will have to contend with Corona del Mar in the Pacific Coast League, but the Trojans might have the firepower to do it. Etel Bugescu twice reached the round of 16 at the section individual singles tournament and then decided not to play last year. She’s back to play as a senior, and sophomore Nicole Ngo has transferred from Irvine. Freshman Aimee Kim and sophomore Megan Biorkman give Coach Ingrid Bruder more flexibility and depth in her lineup than she has ever had.

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Newport Harbor--Strong at top with Braverman and depth is impressive; 2. Corona del Mar--Will miss Caylan Leslie, who has decided against playing for a second consecutive year, and Coach Tim Mang, who resigned after last season. But with the addition of talented freshman Anne Yelsey, improvement of Kim Singer and stability of Nadia Vaughan at top, the Sea Kings have a chance; 3. Capistrano Valley--Kerry Leander left first-year Coach Susan Unger his top two players, Jenny Bailey and Leigh Ann Merryman; 4. Mater Dei--Seniors Melissa Esmero and Mary Hung should lead the Monarchs to the Serra League title and put them in the running for a second consecutive section title; 5. Woodbridge--Susanna Lingman’s decision not to play and loss of Evangalina Soriano to Northwood dims the Warriors’ hopes of getting back to the Division I final; 6. Dana Hills--For once, the Dolphins aren’t favored to win the South Coast League. Maybe departed Coach John Stephens knew something; 7. Laguna Beach--Sophomores Ashley Maddocks and Lindsey Butterwick try to lead the Artists to back-to-back Division V titles; 8. University--Bugescu’s return gives the Trojans a chance to improve on 12-6 record; 9. Troy--Tougher schedule makes second straight undefeated regular season unlikely; 10. Cypress--Sophomores Samantha Waller, Gunjan Nanda and Jenna Black are back from 16-4 team.

* Key Dates: Nov. 20, Dec. 2-3, Southern Section individual tournament; Nov. 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 22, Southern Section team tournament.

* League Favorites: Century--Villa Park; Empire--Cypress; Freeway--Troy; Garden Grove--Garden Grove; Golden West--Saddleback; Olympic--St. Margaret’s; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Corona del Mar; Sea View--Newport Harbor; Serra--Mater Dei; South Coast--Capistrano Valley; Sunset--Los Alamitos.

* Fast Facts: Five of the top six teams have new coaches. Newport Harbor’s Olson, in her fifth season, is the only returning coach. Corona del Mar’s Mang, Capistrano Valley’s Leander, Mater Dei’s Don Clark, Woodbridge’s Joan Willett and Dana Hills’ Stephens all resigned after last season. Saddleback has never won a league title in girls’ tennis. But with Rosary off to the Serra League, the Roadrunners could break the string if they can get by Santa Ana.