Girls’ Tennis

* The Proven: The key for Corona del Mar won’t be who starts the season, but who finishes it. The Sea Kings have had abundant talent the last two seasons, but injuries and player defections have taken their toll. “We’re loaded again, but we’ll see if we can keep them together,” Coach Andy Stewart said. The Sea Kings, who are playing in Division IV this year, are so deep that their doubles players could probably sweep most teams’ singles lineups. The top three singles players--Anne Yelsey, Brittany Reitz and Kim Singer--are ranked among the top 20 in Southern California. And there isn’t a big drop-off in doubles. Returning starters Leslie Damion, Kristen Griffith, Katie Tenerelli and Laura Claster are solid and freshmen Brittany Holland (ranked 16th in the girls’ 14s) and Juliette Mutzke would play No. 1 or No. 2 for most teams. Stewart will have to wait six weeks for Reitz, a transfer from Mater Dei and St. Margaret’s, who is ineligible until Oct. 15.

* The Promising: Villa Park should have its best team since 1995, when Faye DeVera and Katie Becker led the Spartans to the Division II title. Lindsey Nelson, No. 1 in the girls’ 16s in Southern California, will be difficult to beat at No. 1 singles. Arti Iyer, ranked 45th in the girls’ 16s, returns after missing her freshman season with a shoulder injury, and Leah Becker is a solid No. 3 player. The Spartans also return Tina Pattara and Tiffany Cheung, the Century League doubles champions.

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Corona del Mar--If they stay together, Sea Kings should win first section title since 1997; 2. Dana Hills--Dolphins could challenge Palos Verdes Peninsula in Division I if Kady Pooler and Chelsy Thompson have big years; 3. Woodbridge--Susanna Lingman, Elizabeth Exon and Evangelina Soriano will need some help.; 4. Troy--Warriors return all but one from Division II runner-up team; 5. Villa Park--Spartans have top four teams on their schedule; 6. University--Aimee Kim and Megan Biorkman a great one-two punch; 7. Canyon--Tracy Lin should make an immediate impact; 8. Newport Harbor--Lost top three players from Division I runner-up team; 9. Sunny Hills--If the Lancers are going to challenge Troy, Joanna Kao must get some help. 10. Santa Margarita--With Melissa Esmero and Mary Hung graduated from Mater Dei, the Serra League is wide open.

* Key Dates: Oct. 6-7, Corona del Mar National Invitational; Nov. 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 20, Southern Section team playoffs; Nov. 18, 30, Dec. 1, Southern Section individual playoffs.

* League Favorites: Century--Villa Park; Empire--Cypress; Freeway--Troy; Garden Grove--Garden Grove; Golden West--Saddleback; Olympic--Calvary Chapel; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Corona del Mar; Sea View--Woodbridge; Serra--Santa Margarita; South Coast--Dana Hills; Sunset--Los Alamitos.

* Fast Facts: Ashley Maddocks, who led Laguna Beach to two Division V titles, is attending the Weil Tennis Academy in Ojai. . . . The first national high school girls’ tournament will be Oct. 6-7 at the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club. Corona del Mar is the host team. Others schools entered are Woodbridge, Dana Hills, Folsom Granite Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Beverly Hills, Del Mar Torrey Pines, Cupertino Monte Vista, Menlo Atherton, Pleasanton Foothill and Broughton of Raleigh, N.C. . . . The Southern Section rule that eliminates move-ups in sports with enrollment-based playoffs will begin this year. That means Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar, which traditionally moved up to Division I, will be in Division III and IV, respectively, this season.