Peninsula Remains Dominant in Tennis

The Palos Verdes Peninsula High girls’ tennis team served notice Tuesday that it is not about to give up its Southern Section Division I title by defeating Newport Harbor, 11-7.

The Panthers, who have won seven Division I titles in eight years, swept the doubles matches en route to the victory over the Orange County power.

Peninsula has no trouble getting motivated to play the Sailors. Newport Harbor ended Peninsula’s 122-match unbeaten streak in 1996.

“That pushes us to win a little more,” said Peninsula senior Christine Tjong, who dropped only three games at No. 2 doubles with Christine Setian. “We bring it up every time we play them.”

*

The Newport Harbor boys’ water polo team ended Long Beach Wilson’s 48-game winning streak with a sudden-death overtime victory two weeks ago, then defeated the three-time defending Division I champion Bruins again last weekend, 11-5, in the final of the South Coast Tournament.

Long Beach Wilson was 29-0 last season.

“The first time we played them this year, we were scared. . . . You know, it was the usual, ‘Oh my God, it’s Long Beach Wilson,’ ” said Newport Harbor’s Robert Weiner. “But this time, we were confident in our game and we took control of the game right away.”

No one at Wilson is too worried.

The Bruins have been without senior Tony Azevedo, who is playing for the U.S. national water polo team until next month. With Azevedo unavailable, Albert Garcia and James Shin have elevated their games.

When Azevedo returns with the highest level of international experience on his resume, the Bruins are expected to challenge for their fourth consecutive title.

“This was a big win for us,” Newport Harbor Coach Bruce Kreutzkamp said. “But the fact of the matter is that Tony Azevedo was not playing. And we can’t let ourselves get too confident and get an attitude.”