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Depleted Peninsula tennis team defeats depleted Costa
by Stephanie Manasse
The Mira Costa Boy’s tennis team headed to Peninsula High last week, again without their No.1 single KC Corkery, who was out with a knee injury. The Mustangs were also without Ryan Pfeifle, an important link in the Mustang’s lineup. Peninsula was also short-handed, but their lineup is deeper than Costa’s, making for a lopsided 15-3 match-up.
There were no singles victories for the Mustangs. Their three victories came on the doubles side, with the team of Addison Allen-Ashton Politanoff winning two out of their three matches.
"Ashton and I make a good team. Our individual effort was good, but our effort as a team as a whole was lacking," Allen said.
No. 2 single Scott Whitehead was also disappointed with the showing.
"We came in knowing it would be an uphill climb without KC and Ryan, but I thought we could have done better. I know I could have." Whitehead said. Whitehead only won two games in three matches. Kenny Trinh, playing number one singles in place of Corkery, showed his frustration on the tennis court by going for amazing winners, but they only went in once or twice out of ten tries.
" I couldn’t get my rhythm today," Trinh said. " It was really frustrating because I know I could have won at least one match."
Before the match started, the mood was hopeful because Peninsula was without half of its No. 1 nationally ranked team. However, as soon as the match started, the mood changed.
The listless Mustangs seemed lost. Without Corkery to provide a spark with an automatic three wins, their effort seemed absent.
Mira Costa Coach Jeff Verner didn’t seemed surprised by the team’s showing.
"Our attitude going in was to have fun, but with out KC and Ryan there, our kids found the situation hopeless," Verner said.
If Mira Costa makes CIF, which is questionable at this time, hopefully everyone will be healthy and ready to play. ER