Sea Kings set sights on repeat

Barry Faulkner

A surprising loss in the regular-season finale didn’t cost the Corona

del Mar High boys tennis team anything but a perfect record. The

defending CIF Southern Section Division I champion Sea Kings will

open this year’s Division I playoffs as the No. 1 seed, it was

announced Monday.

Joining CdM in the tennis playoffs are Sage Hill School, the No. 3

seed in Division V, as well as Newport Harbor and Estancia, in

Division I and Division V, respectively.

All but CdM will open May 18. The Sea Kings received a first-round

bye and will not play until the second round May 20.

Coach Tim Mang’s Sea Kings (19-1), were stunned by Northwood,

10-8, in the league finale Thursday.

CdM has won 10 section titles, including three since 1999.

CdM will play host to either Dos Pueblos or Thousand Oaks in the

second round.

Sage Hill (11-7), ranked No. 2 in last week’s Division V poll, got

the No. 3 seed and will host Golden West League runner-up Saddleback,

May 18 at 3 p.m.

Coach A.G. Longoria’s Lightning posted the school’s initial

postseason victory last year, defeating Savanna on games, 81-79.

Sage, however, lost in the second round, a fate it will hope to

avoid this spring. Sage was second in the Academy League to Division

V top seed Whitney.

Newport Harbor (13-6), which finished second to Woodbridge in the

Sea View League, opens on the road against South Coast League

runner-up San Clemente.

Estancia (11-6), which claimed the Golden West League crown, its

first league title in at least 10 years, will host first-round foe

Rubidoux May 18.