Dana Hills Dominates List of Top Returning Tennis Players

The Dana Hills High’s girls tennis team is loaded -- once again -- this season and is looking forward to reversing its fortunes in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship match, where the Dolphins have lost to Campbell Hall of North Hollywood each of the last two years.

Standing in their way, at least among Orange County competitors, according to a preview in the Orange County Register, figures to be University, which doesn’t have the individual star power of Dana Hills but is a very deep squad. Last year, the Dolphins beat the Trojans, 9-8, in the section semifinals.

The teams square off in a nonleague match on Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. at Dana Hills High.

In high school tennis, one never knows exactly who is going to show up and play for his team until the player laces up her shoes and picks up her racket. Such was the case last season, when the phenomenal Mayo Hibi (44-1; her only loss coming in the Southern Section individual finals) decided to play as a freshman for Woodbridge High in Irvine. This year, however, coach Ric Barth said Hibi has decided to focus on playing in individual tournaments rather than for his team.

Without Hibi on the court, it’s a toss-up as to the county’s best player, but don’t be surprised if that title ends up being bestowed upon one of the Dana Hills girls. Oh, and more thing: None of them are seniors.

Here is a look at the top returning girls volleyball players for the 2011 season among those schools covered by Orange County Patch sites:

• Alyssa Smith, Jr., Dana Hills -- Alyssa Smith will, undoubtedly, take over for her sister, Joanna, as the Dolphins’ No. 1 singles player this season. Joanna managed a 27-4 record at No. 1 singles last year, despite playing part of the season wearing a cast on her left wrist. Both sisters were named first team All-South Coast League. Alyssa missed the league tournament as she was nursing a sore hamstring in preparation for postseason team competition. She finished 24-4 with her only loss to a county player being to Hibi. Alyssa also went 5-0 in doubles.

• Cassidy Spearman, Jr., Dana Hills -- Spearman was as effective playing singles (17-0) as she was in doubles (19-3) for the Dolphins. She teamed with Jessica Perez to win their second straight South Coast League doubles title, and the two reached the section’s individual doubles semifinals.

• Jessica Perez, Jr., Dana Hills -- Another versatile player, Perez finished 19-3 in singles and 19-2 in doubles.

• Sophia Bott, Sr., San Clemente -- Another first-team All-South Coast League member, Bott (47-7) was the No. 1 singles player for the Tritons, who lost to Campbell Hall in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs. She was runner-up in the league’s singles tournament and reached the Round of 16 of the section’s individual tournament.

• Taylor Nederlander, Jr., Laguna Beach -- Was named the Orange Coast League’s most valuable player after winning the league’s singles championship.

• Mayci Jones, Jr., Tesoro -- Reached the South Coast League’s singles semifinals, where she lost to Sophia Bott, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in a three-hour match. The two had split their previous two league meetings last season. Jones rebounded to beat Margo Pletcher , 6-2, 6-0, in the third-place match.

• Nini Ugrelidze, Jr., Corona del Mar -- Sea Queen fans will look to Ugrelidze to fill the hole created by the departure of No. 1 singles player Lynda Xepoleas, who, before she graduated in June, was a first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection and reached the semifinals of the section’s individual singles championship, finishing 33-4 overall. Ugrelidze, who has lived in the United States for two years since emigrating from the country of Georgia, has played varsity tennis at CdM since her freshman year. Last year, she compiled a 45-17 record in singles and was an all-county second-team selection.

• Margo Pletcher, So., Dana Hills -- Reached the South Coast League’s singles semifinals, where she lost to teammate Joanna Smith, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Teamed with Spearman as the Dolphins’ only doubles team -- playing at No. 2 -- to win all three of its matches in the 10-8 loss to Campbell Hall in the Division 1 final last year.

• Tiffany Cheng, Sr., St. Margaret's -- The Tartans’ No. 1 singles player last year, Cheng swept three sets at 6-0 to help her team defeat Academy League rival Sage Hill, 9-9 (69-60), for the team’s third consecutive Division 3 championship and 72nd consecutive victory over Cheng’s last three seasons.

Others to Watch -- Alexa Anton-Ohlmeyer, Jr., Dana Hills; Megan Bathen, Jr., Newport Harbor; Naomi Bharath, Jr. Tesoro;  Katie Bick, Sr., Sage Hill; Leslie Chang, Sr., JSerra; Rebecca Gold, Jr., Dana Hills;  Claire Jaeger, Sr., Laguna Beach; Lauren Michaels, Sr., Laguna Beach; Zoe Oedekerk, Jr., St. Margarets’s; Lauren Thaxter, So., Corona del Mar; Mazy Watrous, Sr., El Toro; Mindy Wheeler, Sr., Newport Harbor; Christina Young, Sr., Newport Harbor.