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  • Valencia's Kristy Kao prepares to strike the ball before returning...

    Valencia's Kristy Kao prepares to strike the ball before returning a shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia 's Jessica Zeng hits a forehand during her doubles...

    Valencia 's Jessica Zeng hits a forehand during her doubles match against the team from Cerritos on Wednesday.

  • Valencia's Amanda Yee prepares to return a shot during her...

    Valencia's Amanda Yee prepares to return a shot during her doubles match against the team from Cerritos on Wednesday.

  • Valencia's Jessica Zeng, right, smiles while celebrating a point with...

    Valencia's Jessica Zeng, right, smiles while celebrating a point with teammate, Amanda Yee, left, during their doubles match against Cerritos.

  • Valencia's Amanda Yee, left, and Jessica Zeng, right, celebrate a...

    Valencia's Amanda Yee, left, and Jessica Zeng, right, celebrate a point during their match against the team from Cerritos during the semifinal match on Wednesday.

  • Valencia's Ashley Chen concentrates before striking a return shot during...

    Valencia's Ashley Chen concentrates before striking a return shot during her doubles match against the team from Cerriots on Wednesday.

  • Valencia's Tiffany Nguyen prepares to hit a backhand return during...

    Valencia's Tiffany Nguyen prepares to hit a backhand return during her doubles match against the team from Cerritos during the semifinals in girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Vandana Kadiamada prepares to return a forehand shot during...

    Valencia's Vandana Kadiamada prepares to return a forehand shot during her doubles match against the team from Cerritos on Wednesday.

  • Valencia's Diana Hernandez stretches to return a shot during her...

    Valencia's Diana Hernandez stretches to return a shot during her doubles match against Cerritos.

  • Valencia's Emily Duong returns a shot during her match against...

    Valencia's Emily Duong returns a shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Kristy Kao watches the ball before returning a shot...

    Valencia's Kristy Kao watches the ball before returning a shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada strikes a backhand shot during her match...

    Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada strikes a backhand shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada celebrates a point during her match against...

    Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada celebrates a point during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada hits a forehand during her match against...

    Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada hits a forehand during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada watches the ball before returning a shot...

    Valencia's Kavita Kadiamada watches the ball before returning a shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girls tennis.

  • Valencia's Emily Duong concentrates on a forehand shot during her...

    Valencia's Emily Duong concentrates on a forehand shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

  • Valencia's Emily Duong hits an overhead shot during her match...

    Valencia's Emily Duong hits an overhead shot during her match against the team from Cerritos High during the semifinals for girl's tennis.

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Associate mug of Kenny Connolly, Anaheim reporter.

Date shot: 12/31/2012 . Photo by KATE LUCAS /  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The match couldn’t have played out much better for Valencia’s top singles player, Emily Duong.

With the Tigers holding a four-point lead headed into Wednesday’s final round of matches against Cerritos, the talented sophomore played on center court in front of her teammates, friends and fellow classmates with a CIF finals berth on the line.

Feeding off the energy of the crowd, Duong captured the decisive tenth point of the match and Valencia went on to win the Division 3 semifinal, 12-6, over the visiting Dons in front of a lively crowd at Valencia High.

The second-seeded Tigers (19-2) will play fourth-seeded Pasadena Poly (18-1) at the Claremont Club on Friday at 10:30 a.m. for the Division 3 crown. It will be Valencia’s first finals appearance since 2008.

“I’m proud and happy for all these girls,” Coach Mike McCall said. “We’ve been improving all season long, and we’re coming into our own at the right time.”

While senior Kavita Kadiamada and Duong earned the crucial ninth and 10th points of the match on the singles side, it was Valencia’s doubles teams that set the table early.

The Tigers went 8-1 in doubles play, sweeping the first two rounds against Cerritos to earn six of Valencia’s first eight points.

“Doubles were clutch for us today,” Kadiamada said.

Duong added, “The doubles teams were our base. They carried us.”

The duo of Ashley Chen and Tiffany Nguyen went 3-0 for the Tigers, as did the Diana HernandezVandana Kadiamada tandem.

In Division 1:

No. 1 University 12, Santa Barbara 6: The Trojans advanced to Friday’s CIF-SS final at the Claremont Club with a six-point victory over the visiting Dons. After splitting the first round, 3-3, University (20-1) broke open the match with a five-point second round.

Senior Yuki Asami swept her singles matches, while Celine Gruaz and Alyssa Rudin each earned two points for the Trojans. On the doubles side, Ashlyn Wang and Judy Kam went 2-1, as did Michelle Maddox and Kyara Sutton.

University will face off against top-seeded Peninsula (20-0), the only team that defeated the Trojans this season.

Peninsula 15, No. 3 Corona del Mar 3: The Sea Kings (19-5) fell to the top-seeded Panthers, who will try to win back-to-back Division 1 titles on Friday.

The Sea Kings’ top doubles tandem of Riley Gerdau and Siena Sharf earned two of CdM’s three points.

In Division 2:

Murrieta Valley 12, Laguna Beach 6: The Breakers (19-5) ended their season just a win shy of the final round. Madeline Loomis and Ashley Shelton went 3-0 on the doubles side, earning half of the team’s points. Summer Dvorak won one of her three singles sets.

In Division 5:

Thacher of Ojai 15, Orange 3: The Panthers’ historic season came to an end in with a loss to the Toads. Orange capped its campaign with a 19-2 record and made its first appearance in the CIF-SS semifinals.

Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com