Brentwood Steps Up in Class, Faces University

After running away with the Southern Section Division V tennis title last year, the Brentwood Eagles decided they needed tougher competition. So they voted unanimously to move up three levels this year.

“The kids thought IV and III would still be too easy and they thought Division I would be too difficult with [North Hollywood] Harvard-Westlake, [Palos Verdes] Peninsula and Corona del Mar,” Brentwood Coach Keith Sarkisian said. “Division II seemed like the right place to be.”

The second-seeded Eagles (20-2-1) will meet their Division II match today in top-seeded University (19-0) at 2 p.m. at the Claremont Club. The Trojans, led by nationally ranked singles players Aaron Yovan, Henry Mak and Jack Li, have not been seriously challenged all season. Their closest matches were two 12-6 victories over Pacific Coast League rival Corona del Mar.

“We don’t regret the choice we made,” Sarkisian said. “My guys wanted competition, not another easy title.”

Brentwood has already captured four titles in the last six years. In addition to last year’s Division V titles, it won Division III titles in 1994 and ’95 and a Division IV title in 1996. The Eagles’ only losses this season came in the National High School tournament in Newport Beach to Lynchburg Glass (Va.) and to Harvard-Westlake by 5-4 scores.

Yovan, University’s No. 1 singles player who reached the quarterfinals of the section individual tournament, knows his team will be tested.

“It’s going to be real close,” Yovan said. “They’ve got real good doubles. Every single point is going to count.”