Injury to key player mars Corona del Mar's big victory
Injury to key player mars Corona del Mar's big victory
The Sea Kings roll into the girls tennis Division I semifinals but might be without Ishii.
NEWPORT BEACH - Top-seeded Corona del Mar's victory over Troy on Wednesday afternoon could prove more dramatic than the score suggests.
The Sea Kings defeated the Warriors, 15-3, in a CIF-SS Division I girls tennis quarterfinal match, but they might be without one of their top doubles players in the next round.
Karen Ishii, who plays No. 2 doubles with Kelli Feeley, injured her right hip on a fall on set point in the Sea Kings' victory, 7-6, in Round 1 of matches. As Ishii moved back for a ball, she rolled her ankle and fell to the ground, landing on her hip. She was helped off the court and sat the rest of the match.
“She can barely walk,” CdM coach Brian Ricker said.
The Sea Kings visit Peninsula of Rolling Hills Estates in the semifinals today. The winner plays Monday at the Claremont Club for the Division I title. Corona del Mar beat Peninsula, 12-6, in a match without top singles player Melissa Matsuoka earlier in the year.
The Sea Kings won eight of nine doubles sets in that match, but that could change if Ishii can't play. Feeley and Ishii have one loss on the season.
“If she can't play, it would neutralize Melissa playing against them,” Ricker said. “I don't know what I would do if she can't play.”
Elizabeth Nguyen substituted for Ishii against the Warriors, who defeated Northwood on Tuesday to advance.
The Warriors lost earlier this season to the Sea Kings, 15-3. Warriors coach Donna Judd shuffled her lineup in the latest meeting, moving Stefanie Villajuan and Frances Tseng into doubles. The two usually play No. 1 and 2 singles, but the final score was the same Wednesday.
“I moved them to doubles to practice for Saturday,” Warriors coach Donna Judd said. “I knew Corona del Mar's doubles were amazing, and they were.
“My goal this year was to get to the quarterfinals. We had seven new kids on varsity.”
Afterward, Ricker spoke about his team's next opponent.
“Peninsula is a good team with a big history,” he said. “They have improved since we played them.”
Contact the writer: ctobolski@ocregister.com
