Sea Kings Rebound, Beat No. 4 University

Corona del Mar, the top-ranked boys’ tennis team in Orange County, recovered from a sluggish start to put away fourth-ranked University, 12-6, Tuesday in a Pacific Coast League match at Corona del Mar. The victory moves the Sea Kings (9-0, 4-0) a step closer to taking the league title away from University (8-4, 3-1), which didn’t lose a match last year.

The match might have been closer and the result could have been different if University had had two of its top three singles players, Henry Mak and Aaron Yovan. Mak has been out all season with a blood infection and Yovan missed the match after suffering an allergic reaction to medication he was taking for the flu.

But Anson Hsu, who won two of three doubles sets with partner Edwin Chen, said his team had no excuses for its loss.

“We tried as hard as we could without them,” Hsu said. “We just have to roll with the punches and work with what we have.”

Hsu and Chen’s 7-6 (3) comeback victory over Corona del Mar’s No. 1 team of Peter Kulmaticki and Michael Bean gave University some early hope. After Hsu and Chen’s victory, Corona del Mar only led, 3-2. But Brian Morton rallied to defeat Jack Li, 7-6 (4) in a high-powered set at No. 1 singles.

“I got here late and I didn’t warm up, so that hurt me,” Morton said. “But he played well.”

Li led 4-2, before Morton began finding the court with his whipping forehands and well-placed drop shots. Morton won four of the next six games and then dominated the tiebreaker.

“I usually control most of my matches,” Morton said. “I’ll either win it myself or lose it myself. Today, I won it.”

Morton’s win gave the Sea Kings a 4-2 lead. In the second round, Corona del Mar won five of six sets to build a 9-3 advantage. The Sea Kings won five singles sets and seven more in doubles. The doubles lineup was strengthened and the singles’ weakened because of No. 3 singles player Garrett Snyder’s last-minute switch to No. 2 doubles with Randy Myers.

Snyder found out Monday that he has mononucleosis.

“I didn’t want to make it worse so I played doubles,” said Snyder, whose team won all three sets. “My reflexes aren’t as fast and I didn’t feel as powerful.”

Snyder said he will continue to play doubles until he starts feeling better. Corona del Mar will need him. It plays fifth-ranked Woodbridge today and third-ranked Troy Friday.