Corona del Mar reloads
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Joseph Boo
NEWPORT BEACH - When Corona del Mar High’s girls tennis team went
to the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals last year, Nadia
Vaughan had to watch her teammates play on the court without her. She
tore her knee ligament and Vaughan watched helplessly as her team fell.
“It was very frustrating,” Vaughan simply said.
This is a new year though, and Vaughan is returning for her senior year
with determination. “I want to get back to the CIF playoffs, and I want
our school to get back as national champions.”
And the Sea Kings will depend on Vaughan to lead the team there. CdM lost
four seniors from last year’s team to graduation, including Eva
Baudenbacher, who reached the CIF Southern Section round of 16 last year.
Vaughan, who is nationally ranked in the 18s, was last year’s runner-up
for Sea View League player of the year honors and is a threat to win the
CIF title this year. She leads a team loaded with young talent.
But the Sea Kings found out painfully last year that talent alone does
not win tennis matches. Despite a 15-4 record, team chemistry was
strained, and a couple of girls quit the team or transferred out. Coupled
with Vaughan’s injury, CdM bowed out disappointingly in the CIF
quarterfinals. To top everything off, long-time coach Tim Mang, who built
CdM into a powerful program, decided to resign, and will coach the boys
only.This year, the team seems intent on maintaining a unified front
behind new coach Stewart. “The girls are really getting along this year,”
said first-year Coach Andy Stewart. “It’s pretty much the same team this
year as last year, if not better,” Vaughan said. “And we all get along
great.”
If the team doesn’t beat itself, then CdM will find losses rare. The Sea
Kings might be one of the strongest group of players in the state.
Besides Vaughan, the team includes freshman Anne Yelsey, who according to
Stewart could be the most talented player on the team. The 14-year-old is
currently ranked No. 5 in her age group, and she has been very impressive
over the summer.
“She’s had a lot of wins on clay and hard court,” Stewart said. “She’s
going to surprise a lot of people.”
Despite her impressive showing, Yelsey will probably start at No. 3 for
the Sea Kings. The No. 2 player in CdM’s singles lineup looks like
sophomore Kim Singer, last year’s freshman phenom who provided fits for
the opposition last year as the No. 3 player. This gives CdM three
singles player of considerable note.
While the singles players are young, doubles are experienced, but just as
deep. Stewart hasn’t set a lineup yet, but will look to seniors Nicole
Charney and Ashley Jacobson to lead the doubles. Adding to the team’s
depth are junior Kristen Griffith and sophomore Leslie Damion. There’s
more talent behind them, and that could be important with Damion
recovering from appendix surgery.
With all this depth, Stewart shouldn’t have too difficult of a time
taking over for Mang. “I’ve known him for 15 years,” Stewart said. “It
should be an easy transition, and it should go pretty well. I’ve also
known a few of the players before.”
Stewart is entering his first year of coaching after spending some time
on the ATP Tour.
“I don’t have to teach them too much, they all know how to play,”
Stewart said. “The only thing I have to do is get them in shape. I have
so much talent, it won’t be a problem.”
Roster
Nadia Vaughan Sr.
Kim Singer So.
Anne Yelsey Fr.
Nicole Charney Sr.
Ashley Jacobson Sr.
Kristen Griffith Jr.
Leslie Damion So.
Laura Claster So.
Katie Tenerelli So.
Sara Brian So.
Hilary Fuller So.
Brittany Minna So.Coach: Andy Stewart
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