IRVINE It has been suggested in recent years that the University boys tennis program is the most dominant Orange County has to offer.
Five straight CIF championships and 100-plus consecutive league wins will do that for a squad.
Rather quietly, the Trojans’ girls program is following in the boys’ footsteps.
On Tuesday, top-ranked University captured its 50th consecutive Pacific Coast League match, defeating No. 3 Corona del Mar, 13-5, at University High.
The Trojans (14-1, 8-0) also earned their fifth consecutive PCL championship – widely regarded as one of the top high school tennis leagues in the country.
“In this league, you can’t take anyone lightly,” University coach John Kessler said. “It’s crazy to do that and bring it every single game. With the boys team, we’re deeper. So if I miss a boy in a lineup, we have a bunch (waiting to step up).
“With the girls, we’re not as deep. And if we miss somebody, it matters. So it’s pretty impressive.”
The Trojans immediately seized control of the match with a strong showing from its singles lineup.
Senior Yuki Asami and junior Alyssa Rudin both won their first round sets in 6-1 fashion, while junior Judy Kam topped the Sea Kings’ No. 1, Danielle Wilson, 6-3.
Riley Gerdau and Siena Sharf, CdM’s top doubles tandem, mustered the only point of the first round for the Sea Kings with a 6-0 win.
The 5-1 score quickly became a 9-3 University advantage after the second round thanks to another sweep on the singles side and a win from Uni’s No. 3 doubles team, Ashlyn Wang and Tiffany Madlambayan.
Fittingly enough, it was Asami – the senior captain – who secured the win with a 6-0 third-round performance over Elena Fish, giving the Trojans the decisive 10th point.
“Everything is relative,” Kessler said when asked to compare the girls’ winning streak to the boys’. “With the girls, and where we had to come from – the lack of extreme depth – I think it’s maybe even more meaningful.”
The Trojans earned nine points from its singles lineup, going 9-0.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
