Knight contributes in zonals victory

It was an exciting showdown in the team finals for local Newport Beach residents Meredith Xepoleas and Kate Knight at the United States Tennis Assn. Pacific Zone team tennis championships for 14s, held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Sunday. Two of the co-ed teams from Southern California beat out all others in the regional event and met for the competition’s finale, which ended in an overall team score of 10-8, with Knight’s team taking the championship title.

Knight went 1-1 in the finals against Xepoleas’ other Southern California team, falling in singles but teaming with Yolanda Pham of San Diego to win in girls’ doubles, 8-6.

The teams were presented with medallions at an awards ceremony to commemorate their wins. Knight and Xepoleas got the opportunity to play with and cheer for other players that they normally compete against in USTA tournaments.

Corona del Mar resident Henry Gordon competed in the 14s zonals in Colorado as well. His SoCal team went 3-2 and Gordon won nine of the 10 sets he played.

— Matt Szabo

Locals compete at zonals

Newport Coast resident Jenna Moustafa and Corona del Mar resident Garrett Kurtz were in Tucson, Ariz. over the weekend for the United States Tennis Assn. Pacific Zone team championships for 12s.

Moustafa was on the “Bobcats” and Kurtz on the “Jaguars” for the tournament that includes children from the western United States and includes singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Moustafa went 7-3 in her sets for the Bobcats, who finished in third place among the 12 teams in the competition.

Kurtz went 3-7 overall for the Jaguars, who finished sixth.

— Matt Szabo

OC Lightning win twice

The OC Lightning, a team with three local players and Sage Hill Coach A.G. Longoria, won twice Tuesday on the first day of the World Team Tennis Junior Nationals in San Diego.

The Lightning, a six-player co-ed junior tennis team, feature Sage Hill boys’ players Robbe Simon and Andrew Kurzweil, as well as Tracy Beblie of Newport Harbor. They topped the Waves of San Diego, 48-5, in round one before dropping the Incredible Intermountain Ice, 35-31, in round two at the George E. Barnes Family Tennis Center.

Sixteen teams from across the country are competing at the WTT Junior Nationals, and matches consist of two sets each of boys’ and girls’ singles, one set each of boys’ and girls’ doubles and two sets of mixed doubles.

Tournament play continues with the third round this morning. The teams will then be re-seeded for the playoff round, which begins this afternoon. The finals are scheduled for Thursday morning.

— From staff reports

Estancia kids soccer camp coming soon

The Estancia High girls’ soccer program is having a summer camp for kids at Jim Scott Stadium Monday through Aug. 12.

The camp is for ages 5-13 and the cost is $50 per player. The camp is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

For more information, contact Estancia Coach Jessica Gatica at jgatica@nmusd.us.

— From staff reports