Steve VirgenBy the end of the first...

Steve Virgen

By the end of the first round in a Sea View League-opening match

between Foothill High and host Newport Harbor, a description of the

Sailors became prevalent: Newport Harbor’s for real.

The Sailors dominated in singles and defeated last year’s Sea View

League co-champion, 14-4, Tuesday at Newport Harbor.

It could be easy to say Foothill (4-4) is at a rebuilding stage

this season and that would be the reason for the result. The Knights

lost four key seniors to graduation, including Kyle Roybal, Morgan

Surfas, and Jason and Drew Himber, all of whom were all-league

players in each of their four seasons.

But, Foothill Coach Kerry Livingston said Foothill’s lack of

experience wasn’t the only reason for the Sailors’ dominance Tuesday.

“Newport’s going to be really tough this year,” Livingston said.

“They have gotten stronger. They have really stepped up their game.

I’m impressed with their singles players.”

Livingston added the race for the Sea View League title will most

likely be between the Sailors and Woodbridge, which shared the

championship with Foothill last year.

Newport Harbor (4-2) has a chance mainly because of its strength

in singles and its depth. The Sailors dropped just two games in

singles. Their No. 1 player, sophomore Robert Khoury, did not drop a

game and played near flawless. Newport’s new kid on the block, Jake

Fleming, was in command, dropping just one game and the same went for

senior leader Tyler Deck.

“We wanted to come out and start strong,” said Deck, in his fourth

varsity year. “We came out with a lot of intensity.”

The Sailors won five of the first round’s six sets to take control

of the match. Khoury, last year’s Sea View League individual

champion, demonstrated power and poise in sending away his opponents.

Deck was also on his game, while Fleming also took care of business.

The win and Newport’s upward climb in regard to respect has been

welcomed by Deck and fellow senior Charlie Farmer. They were around

when the Sailors were at the bottom of the Sea View League. But now

they are considered the favorite, they are seizing the opportunity,

Coach Jeff Thomsen said.

“We definitely want it this year,” Thomsen said. “We’ve been

gearing up for this time. This is the year we want to make an

impression. Last year we made the CIF playoffs, but this is the year

we want to show more and hopefully put Newport back on the map.”

While the Sailors’ singles players were brilliant, the doubles

weren’t too shabby, especially Farmer and junior Grant Casserly. The

Newport duo swept and dropped just one game.

The Sailors tandem of juniors Dylan Espley-Jones and Ruslan

Seryduk contributed two victories and nearly a third, losing to

Foothill’s No. 1 team, 5-7.

*--*

Sea View League

Newport Harbor 14, Foothill 4

Singles -- Khoury (NH) def. Katzman, 6-0, def. Roybal, 6-0, def. Newman, 6-0; Fleming (NH) won, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1; Deck (NH) won, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0. Doubles -- McLaren-Bendhiem (NH) lost to Ducker-Lo, 1-6, 3-6, 2-6; Espley-Jones/Seryduk (NH) lost, 5-7, won,

6-2, 6-4; Farmer-Casserly (NH) won, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0.

*--*