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Four of the top tennis singles players in the county extended their seasons Thursday, surviving the first day of competition at the CIF-SS Individual Regionals at Corona del Mar High.

Drew Dawson (University), Chase Mascorini (Dana Hills), Reese Stalder (Newport Harbor) and Tanner Smith (Servite) all advanced into the singles round of 32, which will be played Thursday at Whittier Narrows Tennis Center in South El Monte.

Of the four players to advance, only Smith was not awarded a first-round bye. After getting by Zack Washer of Laguna Beach, 6-0, 6-0, to start his day, Smith defeated Michael Bolt (San Clemente), 7-6, 6-3, in the second round.

In what turned out to be the match of the day, Smith, a senior, outdueled Corona del Mar’s Bjorn Hoffmann for the final spot in the round of 32. After dropping the first set to the Sea Kings’ talented sophomore, 3-6, Smith fought back to win the second set 6-3, and won, 14-12, in the tiebreaker.

In doubles, the teams to advance were Kevin Wong and Nathan Nguyen (Northwood), Arash Hafezi and Eric Tseng (University), Billy Whitaker and Matt Greenberg (San Clemente) and Parker Braverman and Darren Nguyen (Fountain Valley).

The regional will move to the Seal Beach Tennis Center on June 6-7 for the final rounds.

KENNY CONNOLLY

MIXED DAY FOR LAGUNA BEACH

The Laguna Beach boys tennis team has reigned over the Orange Coast League since the arrival of Coach Don Davis three years ago. The Breakers won their third consecutive league title this year despite starting a lineup filled with underclassmen.

Laguna Beach’s young players tried to add to that succes at the individual regionals at Corona del Mar, but they weren’t able to move on to the round of 32.

Ryan Gee secured a first-round win over La Quinta’s Tri Luong, 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10), and freshman Ethan Gee teamed with senior Alex Duong to get past Peter Marquez and Alex Reyes of San Dimas, 4-6, 6-0, 1-0 (7).

But in the second round, Ryan Gee lost to Mascorini, 6-0, 6-1, and Ethan Gee and Duong fell to Minsong Hsu and Kenny Sakata of Diamond Bar, 6-3, 6-1.

“It’s been a very enjoyable season with these guys,” Davis said. “Tennis is a very individualistic sport. Sometimes it’s hard to get kids to look past themselves. That’s what has been wonderful about this group. They look more towards their teammates than they do towards themselves.”

ANDREW TURNER

CREAN PLAYERS ADVANCE

For the second year in a row, Crean Lutheran’s Niko Ramadan and Justin Zhang both won their first two matches in the CIF-SS individuals to advance to Thursday’s round of 32.

Ramadan defeated Sung-Hi Lee of Cypress, 6-1, 6-2, in the third round at Andulka Park Tennis Center in Riverside. Zhang won his third-round match against Lyndon Bui of Canyon, 6-4, 6-4.

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