Whenever the top two teams in the county square off, regardless of the sport, there is a good chance the result will be close.
In recent memory, tennis might be the exception to that rule.
On Monday afternoon, the University girls tennis team showed again how far ahead of the local competition it really is. Behind a dominant showing from its singles and doubles teams, the top-ranked Trojans overwhelmed No. 2 Los Alamitos, 15-3, in a CIF-SS quarterfinal match at University High.
University (19-1) advanced to its fourth consecutive semifinals appearance.
The Trojans will host Santa Barbara on Wednesday afternoon.
“I like that (Alyssa) Rudin swept today,” University coach John Kessler said. “Yuki (Asami) swept – she’s always just coming through for us. That’s what she does. And our doubles, I thought, played well.”
Rudin and Asami kicked off the afternoon with 6-0 and 6-2 singles wins, highlighting a five-point first round for University.
The Trojans swept in both singles and doubles in the second round to clinch the match. They held an 11-1 advantage headed into the third round.
Los Alamitos (13-4) lost to University, 12-6, in September, but seemingly took a step back on Monday.
Part of the reason the Griffins struggled was because they were without Aliya Alenikov. The senior had been the team’s top player this season and was unbeaten in doubles play alongside partner Hope Hairrell.
Alenikov, however, recently withdrew from Los Alamitos, leaving a hole in the Griffins’ lineup.
“I was definitely nervous about this match,” Kessler said. “I think not having Alenikov really changed the dynamics. It had to.”
In addition to Asami and Rudin sweeping on the singles side, senior Celine Gruaz won two of her matches to give University eight of a possible nine points.
Considered to be the team’s weak spot, the Trojans also grabbed seven points on the doubles side.
In the Division 5 quarterfinals:
Orange 10, La Sierra 8: The Panthers (19-1) made school history, edging the Eagles at Orange High. Under Coach Michael Wenkart, the Panthers have reached the semifinals for the first time and they are one win away from a berth in the CIF finals.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
