Girls tennis: A shark in a goldfish tank

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - With added experience in both the players and the

coaching staff, the Corona del Mar High girls tennis team is looking at

the 2000 season as a chance to leave quite an impression on the rest of

the competition.

With the combination of losing only three players from last year’s CIF

Southern Section Division I semifinalists and being stuck in Division IV

with no hope of moving up, the Sea Kings will look to feast on schools

they might not normally feed on.

“I was looking at a list of the Division IV schools and I think I

recognized maybe one or two of them,” second-year Coach Andy Stewart

said. “It’s disappointing not being able to play the best teams during

the playoffs, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

With teams like defending Division I champion Peninsula, Mater Dei,

Newport Harbor and Santa Barbara on their nonleague schedule, the

toughest part of the Sea Kings’ schedule comes before Pacific Coast

League competition, but it’s nothing Stewart’s bunch hasn’t seen before.

“We’re an experienced group that is better than last year’s team.

We’ve put a tough nonleague schedule together to make us strong for

league and the playoffs. I think we have the talent to beat anyone we

face, including the top teams like Peninsula.”

Included in the Sea Kings’ never-ending pool of talent include

sophomore Anne Yelsey and junior Kim Singer.

Yelsey breezed through three top singles players from Peninsula, 6-1,

6-0, 6-4, in the Division I semifinals last year and has an arsenal

that’s too deep to totally defend.

“She’s a great all-around player,” Stewart said. “Her serve is strong,

her backhand and forehand are both strong. She’s just doesn’t have too

many weaknesses.”

Singer reached the Girls 18 finals of the Costa Mesa Junior Tennis

Classic before retiring with a sore wrist.

“She played great in the national tournaments despite her wrist

problem,” Stewart said. “She just wears out the rest of the competition.

She has a ton of experience and should have a great season for us.”

Also returning from last year’s Pacific Coast League champions (10-0)

are doubles champions junior Leslie Griffith and senior Kristen Griffith.

“Leslie has been playing lots of singles competition this summer and

her singles play is improving,” Stewart said. “Kristen has a great

groundstroke and she has a great ability to step up during big matches.”

Another strong doubles team making a return to the Sea Kings include

juniors Katie Tenerelli and Laura Claster.

“Katie is our best doubles player, in my opinion,” Stewart said.

“She’s very versatile. She doesn’t do anything great, but she does

everything well. Laura is taller and has a better serve. I think they

complement each other very well and it shows out on the court.”

A newcomer to the already-talented CdM squad is junior Brittany Reitz.

A transfer from Mater Dei, Reitz can not play with CdM until Oct. 15,

but even a half-season is better than not having her at all, according to

Stewart.

“When she joins us, our team will get even better,” he said. “She’s

got tremendous power and is consistent with her groundstrokes. She’s

going to win a ton of matches for us.”

This year’s annual freshman phenom will be battled out by Brittany

Holland and Juliette Mutzke.

“Brittany is going to be a superstar for years to come,” Stewart said.

“She still needs some work on her serve, but her overall play is very

strong. Juliette also looks superb. With a little work at the net, she

can also be a big factor for us.”

Juniors Brittany Minna, Hillary Fuller and Sara Bryan, along with

senior Marisa Cancellari bring depth and some veteran leadership to the

Sea Kings.

“We’ve got a deep group so everyone fighting for playing time,”

Stewart said. “We’re very top-heavy and with the talent we have at the

junior varsity level, I see this only getting better and better. Everyone

is in shape and they all have playing experience against the top

competition in the area. They sure make my job pretty easy.”

CORONA DEL MAR GIRLS TENNIS

Anne Yelsey So.

Brittany Reitz Jr.

Kim Singer Jr.

Kristen Griffith Sr.

Leslie Damion Jr.

Laura Claster Jr.

Katie Tenerelli Jr.

Juliette Mutzke Fr.

Brittany Holly Fr.

Brittany Minna Jr.

Hillary Fuller Jr.

Sara Bryan Jr.

Marisa Cancellari Sr.

Coach: Andy Stewart