The top seeds for singles and doubles in the Corona del Mar regional advanced without much of a threat Monday in the opening rounds of the CIF-SS Individuals Championships.
Laguna Hills junior Alex Valenstein and University’s doubles pairing of Danielle Pham and Yuki Asami each had no trouble winning two matches to advance.
Four singles players and four doubles teams advanced out of the bracket to the Round of 32 on Dec. 3 at Whittier Narrows Tennis Center in South El Monte, though some of those who advanced could receive a bye to the Round of 16 on Dec. 4 at Seal Beach Tennis Center.
Three-quarters of the players who advanced out of the regional at Corona del Mar High came from the Pacific Coast League and South Coast League.
After a first-round bye, the top-seeded Valenstein defeated El Dorado’s Brandy Walker and Savanna’s Jackie Acosta in straight sets. Valenstein advanced to the quarterfinals last year in doubles with teammate Mikey Barthelmass.
Pham and Asami won two 6-0 sets against Garden Grove’s Julie Quach and Codie Pham and gave up just one game in a win over Canyon’s Lauren Candia and Justine Phillips.
University’s Kyla Scott and Celine Gruaz also advanced through the doubles bracket with wins over Siv Chevvuri and Justine Wu of Cerritos and Kaitlyn Nguyen and Amy Huang of Tesoro.
University sophomore Alyssa Rudin, who entered individuals as the Pacific Coast League alternate when Woodbridge’s Stephanie Hazell withdrew, defeated Santa Margarita freshman Katie Chang in straight sets.
The South Coast League advanced two singles players — Dana Hills’ Margo Pletcher and A.J. Gomer — and Tesoro’s doubles team of Layla Rodriguez and Justine Huang.
Canyon’s pairing of Amanda Zuidema and Helena Bui also advanced through the bracket, defeating teams from Yorba Linda and Laguna Beach.
MARK COOPER
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
With the goal of a CIF-SS title gone, the Mater Dei girls volleyball team will try to regroup for a run at a state title.
The Monarchs are the second seed in the Division 1 bracket and will open on the road tonight against Clovis West of Fresno.
“We’ve talked a lot about leaving a legacy at Mater Dei in this program and we can still do it if we win state,” Coach Dan O’Dell said Saturday night. “We were right there with Los Alamitos (in the final) … a few things go our way, we fix a few things, maybe we take that game four and move on and win game five.
“It is not like it is unheard of for us to come back and win state. Hopefully we can still do something special.”
Also playing tonight are Crean Lutheran, Los Alamitos, Sage Hill, Saddleback Valley Christian and Whittier Christian. Second-round matches are Saturday.
DAMIAN CALHOUN
BASKETBALL
Sam Darnold’s recovery from a broken left foot is going faster than he or his doctor expected.
The San Clemente junior, who was injured early in the football season, is anticipating a return to game action on the basketball court around Christmas, a few weeks earlier than the initial projection.
“I guess I’m just a freak healer,” Darnold said. “That’s what my doctor said.”
Darnold was San Clemente’s starting quarterback and is the defending Sea View League MVP in basketball. He broke his foot during a San Clemente loss to Dana Hills on Sept. 12 and missed the rest of the football season. The Tritons did not win a game after his injury, finishing 2-8.
Darnold averaged 13 points per game for the Tritons last year, who won their first league title since 1975.
Even with a protective boot on his foot, Darnold was still able to stand and knock down 3-pointers and has been at every practice, San Clemente coach Marc Popovich said.
Darnold had the boot removed last week and said his doctor told him the best thing he can do now is “just walk around.”
In the long run, the time without Darnold will help the Tritons develop more depth, Popovich said.
But San Clemente will have to start its season without Darnold and point guard Gage Shelmidine, a transfer from Saddleback Valley Christian who must sit out until Jan. 7.
San Clemente begins its season at the Diablo Inferno Tournament on Dec. 2.
MARK COOPER
