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University’s boys tennis team took a major step Saturday toward becoming the first state champion.
The 15-time CIF-Southern Section winner defeated San Diego Section powerhouse Torrey Pines 5-2 in the finals of the CIF/USTA SoCal Regional at The Claremont Club.
The Trojans advanced to play California of San Ramon in the inaugural state final Saturday, May 25, at Fresno Pacific University in Fresno at 10 a.m.
Top-seeded Torrey Pines (25-1) edged No. 2 University 4-3 in the finals of the National High School Tennis All-American Boys Team Tournament in March but the Trojans bounced back to defend their regional title.
University, the Southern Section’s Open Division champion, earned three of its points at singles with victories by freshmen JiHyuk Im and Daniel Zhu and junior Arystarkh Lee.
The Trojans added two points at doubles from the teams of Langston Walter-Wo and Humam Alajeely, and Cedric Lichtsteiner-Joseph Chan.
Torrey Pines, San Diego’s Open Division champion, played without standout senior Robert Freedman, said coach Bruce Taub who declined to elaborate on the reason.
University finished the tournament 3-0 with victories against Corona del Mar (5-2) and Clovis East (7-0) on Friday.
San Ramon California captured the Northern regional with a 6-1 victory against Homestead of Cupertino on Saturday. California claimed the North Coast Section title as the No. 1 seed.
In the fall, Mater Dei won the inaugural girls state title.
