Corona del Mar Gets a Break in the Seedings

Corona del Mar, the top-ranked boys’ tennis team in Orange County, was seeded third in the Division I draw when playoff pairings were released Tuesday by the Southern Section.

By being third seeded, Corona del Mar (16-2) could avoid top-seeded Santa Barbara (18-1) until the finals. The Dons have won eight consecutive section titles and 10 of the last 11. Corona del Mar, which went 10-0 in the Sea View League, would meet second-seeded Palos Verdes Peninsula in the semifinals.

The Sea Kings face Esperanza (10-10), an at-large team from the Sunset League, in the first round that begins Tuesday. Woodbridge (16-4), which finished second to Corona del Mar in the Sea View, drew Chino Hills Ayala in the first round.

One of the more intriguing first-round matchups will be between Dana Hills and Santa Margarita. Dana Hills (18-2) was undefeated in the South Coast League but must face Santa Margarita (14-6, 6-4), which held its own in the tough Sea View League.

University (17-2), which was undefeated in the Pacific Coast League and is ranked second in the county, was seeded fourth in the Division II draw and will play the winner of La Quinta and Paramount in Tuesday’s first round.