Sailors win CIF tennis opener, hope for deep run

Playing in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs was always tough for the Newport Harbor High boys’ tennis team.

But, this season, the Sailors appear to have a real opportunity after being moved down to Division 2. They are the No. 4 seed in the division.

For senior captains David Lee, Sam Leaman and David Sharp, this offers the exciting possibility of extending their careers as long as possible.

“It’s easier to go for when you can see it as a real possibility,” Sharp said.

The Sailors opened the Division 2 playoffs Wednesday at home with a 12-6 win over South Torrance. Now, they will hit the road for a second-round date at Walnut.

Walnut beat Palm Springs, 11-7, in another first-round match on Wednesday.

Freshman Max McKennon (6-1, 6-0, 6-3) and Lee (6-1, 6-4, 6-0) both swept in singles against South Torrance for the Sailors. McKennon, the Sunset League singles finalist, remained undefeated in dual match play this season.

Lee and Mark Schaefer are coming off their first Sunset League doubles title last week, after finishing runner-up the previous two years. The Sailors (17-4) as a team were also strong in doubles on Wednesday.

Leaman and Schaefer swept at the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. Sharp and Andy Myers had a similarly easy time at No. 2 doubles, earning a 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 sweep.

“They played well today, they got the job done,” Newport Harbor Coach Kristen Case said. “We’re ready. I think we’re all really happy. At the end of league play, we were playing really good tennis. Our last two league matches showed off some great tennis, and in the league tournament we played some really solid tennis. I feel like as a group, we’re really prepared, and we’re playing as well as we could at this point.

“They have an opportunity in front of them. What’s so awesome is that they’ve worked hard to create this opportunity. Now it’s just taking it one match at a time, and really enjoying the competition and being out on the court together. At this point, every match could be your last, so I think it’s really important to enjoy competing with your teammates, and again, make the most of the opportunity that you created for yourself.”

South (12-5), the No. 2 team out of the Pioneer League, earned its six sets with sweeps of the Sailors’ No. 3 singles and doubles lines. But Newport Harbor won each round, 4-2.

As the No. 4 seed, the Sailors are indeed hoping for a deep run. A win Friday would secure the program’s first CIF quarterfinals berth since 2009. The last time the Sailors made the semifinals was in 2003.

The team will likely be without Myers in the second round, as he will be out of town at a graduation. But it will just present another opportunity for the rest of the team to step up.

“Coach talks about not peaking too early, and I don’t think we’ve peaked yet,” Leaman said. “That’s exciting. You can really feel the build … we’ll take it match by match.”

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