Sage back on top

NEWPORT BEACH — The Sage Hill girls’ tennis team won its own tournament, the Lightning Invitational, for the first time in three years Saturday at The Tennis Club Newport Beach.

The title run featured a close win over Tesoro, 74-72 in games after a 9-9 tie.

The Lightning also beat Santa Ynez, 12-6, Saturday afternoon to cap the two-day tournament.

They went 3-0 in the tourney, scoring a 15-3 victory against Cerritos on Friday.

Tesoro came in second place with a 2-1 record.

Overall Sage Hill has won the tournament four times in the seven years of the event.

The Lightning remained undefeated at 4-0, the best start in school history, said Coach A.G. Longoria, who has been with the program since it began in 2001.

Sage Hill sophomore Kimberly Brown was named tournament singles MVP. She was undefeated, going 9-0.

The top doubles team award went to Tesoro’s Kathleen Kordestani and Christina Hamme, who went 8-0.

Sage Hill’s Liana Korber, Rian Billingsley, Katie Bick and Devyn Billingsley made the all-tournament team.

Sage Hill returns to action Tuesday when it plays at Newport Harbor at 3 p.m.

— From staff reports