Corona del Mar Puts No. 1 University Tennis Team to Test

University's boys tennis team has been nothing less than a powerhouse this season, beating down the competition while hardly breaking a sweat, but the defending CIF Southern Section Division 1 champions were challenged by a very talented Sea Kings squad in a Sea View League match Thursday at Corona del Mar High. 

University came out on top, 13-5, but don’t let the score fool you: Corona del Mar didn’t back down one bit; the Trojans were just the better team.

“We needed this. We have been cruising too easily,” University coach John Kessler said of the competition. “Corona del Mar has been giving a great, great, effort.”

University (10-0, 4-0 in league), ranked No. 1 in the Division 1 coaches' poll,  is led by three outstanding singles players: sophomores Gage Brymer and Stefan Menichella and freshman Drew Dawson, who combined to win eight of nine singles sets Thursday

In the first round of matches, it was University's best against fifth-ranked Corona del Mar’s best: Brymer vs. senior Shane Korber. Neither had lost a set all season heading into their showdown.

Both players kept long rallies going but when it came time to hit the big shot, Brymer was the one who came through. Brymer’s forehand seemed to have some extra zip on it. On match point Korber delivered a tough serve but Brymer handled it beautifully and put a return winner right down the line to win, 6-1.

“Gage [Brymer] has improved out of this world since last year,” Korber said.  “Although I can safely say it was not my greatest showing.”

On the other courts Menicehlla defeated freshmen Carson Williams, 6-1, and Dawson handled senior Joel Ishii, 6-1, as well.

But it was the doubles side that kept the match competitive as Corona del Mar won two of the three opening-round sets.

The Sea Kings' team of senior Carter Wheatley and junior Alex Murray won their set against senior Kona Luu and sophomore Vincent Pham, 6-3.  Walking off the court, Wheatley and Murray were ecstatic about their first-round performance. 

“I feel like whenever we play Uni, we play really well,” Murray said. “They seem to bring the best out of us.”

Corona del Mar's No 2 doubles team of senior Isman Aboubakore and sophomore Alec Adamson defeated Tyler Lu and Ryo Shimiau, 6-2.

In the last doubles match of the first round, Corona del Mar junior Zach Williams and sophomore Paul Kacik lost to University junior Anthony Su and freshman Eric Tseung, 7-5.  The set was tied at 5 with Williams serving, but the Trojans were able to break serve. In the final game, Su had a gigantic overhead smash that sent the ball bouncing high over the back gate. 

At the end of the first round, University led in sets, 4-2.

“It was huge for us to get that last doubles victory,” Kessler said. “There is a huge difference between 4-2 and 3-3.”

In between rounds, the players were on the sidelines hydrating, eating and trying to find some shade.  Considering the temperature, which was in the upper 80s, and the level of the competition, it appeared players on both teams were feeling a little fatigued.

“It’s not going to be an issue,” Corona del Mar coach Brian Ricker said as he raced between courts to check on his players.

In the second-round of matches, Brymer and Menichella handled business just as easily as they did in the first, dispatching Williams and Ishii, respectively, by 6-0 scores.

Brymer is one standout player, hitting all of his shots with speed and spin. Each move he makes on the court puts him in the correct spot to hit winners or play defense.  He made quick and easy work of his matches but remained focused throughout.

“CdM is always really tough,” Brymer said after his second set.  “The goal is always to just come in and try as hard as possible.”

Korber picked up the Sea Kings' only victory in this round of singles play, defeating Dawson, 6-4.

Brymer and Menichella each finished their second-round match just before 4:30 p.m., while Korber didn't wrap up his victory until 5:15. He would have to face Menichella in the third round only 45 minutes later.

In doubles action during the second round, the teams split two tiebreakers and Corona del Mar (10-2, 3-1) picked up the third set.

University’s Luu and Pham had their hands full with Aboubakore and Adamson. 

Kessler, who was monitoring this match closely, told his bench to try and help Luu get going, and the players erupted in cheers on the next point won by Luu’s volley, giving the Trojans a 3-1 lead.

Aboubakore battled back with good ground strokes that brought the games even at 4.  But Luu and Pham proved to be too much for Corona del Mar's No. 2 doubles team.  Luu hit an incredible forehand that whizzed past Pham’s head on its way to a point in the tiebreak, which University eventually won, 10-8.

The other tiebreak had Corona del Mar's Willams and Kacik coming up a little short against sophomores Tyler Lu and Ryo Shimiau, and after two rounds of play, University was ahead in sets, 7-5.

Corona del Mar was going to need to pick up a set or two in third-round singles play to really have a shot at winning the match, but University wasn’t going to let that happen.

The play of Menichella was the absolute highlight of the final round. He took his game to another level against Korber, hitting absolutely blistering forehands for winners, smashing aces and pumping his fist at the end of big points. 

“University has three great singles players,” Korber said. “But Stefan played the best ever.”

Menichella took a quick 4-0 lead over Korber. Menichella was bouncing around on his return games and clearly had more energy than Korber, who received significantly less rest time between sets.

“It was hotter than usual,” Menichella said. “But I still hit the ball well.  My game felt good, maybe just a little sweaty.”

All of the third-round sets in both singles and doubles went in favor of University, which made the score seem more lopsided than it actually felt.

The teams  meet again April 26 at 3:15 p.m. at University High, where another stellar match is expected.