The Timberwolves were completely overmatched, particularly in doubles, where CdM swept all nine sets, winning 54 of 60 games. CdM has yet to lose a doubles set through two rounds of the CIF playoffs.
“We have a lot of depth in doubles,” Ricker said. “That’s our strong point. They’ve been playing the best they have all year, and we’re going to need them against the better schools in the next few rounds of playoffs.”
In singles, No. 1 Hailey Hogan swept at love. Melissa Matsuoka, the No. 2 singles player, dropped only one game in two sets, and No. 3 Kate Stimac won her only set of the day, 6-4. Ricker used subsitutes for the other singles matches.
“We have a lot of talented girls who work hard,” Ricker said.
The Sea Kings’ depth, particularly in doubles, is exemplified by the fact that at the PCL finals last weekend, the doubles semifinals and finals were made up entirely of Corona del Mar teams.
In the playoffs, juniors Danielle Kaiden and Paige Polizois have swept all six sets in two matches, winning by a combined score of 36 games to one. On Saturday, the pair made quick work of Northwood, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0.
“We expected a tougher test,” said Polizois. “Even though we didn’t play our best, we still did well.”
“We’re different players with different strengths,” said Kaiden. “But we blend together well.”
Corona del Mar will count on its depth against Mira Costa. In the first match of the year, the Sea Kings narrowly defeated the Mustangs, 10-8, at Corona del Mar.
Mira Costa advanced to the quarterfinals with a 15-3 win over Chaminade on Saturday.
CIF Southern Section
Division I playoffs
Second round
Corona del Mar 17, Northwood 1
Singles – Hogan (CdM) def. Pattugalen, 6-0, def. Kan, 6-0, def. Jacdi, 6-0; Matsuoka (CdM) won, 6-1, 6-0, (sub) Beyer (CdM) won, 6-4; Nazemi (CdM) lost, 2-6, won, 6-4, (sub) Stimac (CdM) won, 6-4.
Doubles – Zotovich-Ishii (CdM) def. Wong-Greenberg, 6-0, def. Pashalides-Nguyen, 6-0, def. Ross-Drakcilas, 6-2; Kaiden-Polizois (CdM) won, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0; Nguyen-Feeley (CdM) won, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
