2022 DAILY BREEZE GIRLS TENNIS TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Isa Bringas, Peninsula
Peninsula’s Isa Bringas is not one to shy away from pressure, not on the tennis court or in the classroom.
She felt that pressure in the Bay League Singles championship against Redondo’s Maegen Deng, an opponent Bringas had lost to earlier in the season.
“I really focused on preparing mentally. There was a lot of pressure and I had to get past that, past the pressure to win,” Bringas said. “I needed to focus on my game and no matter what happened, I was prepared and I knew I was playing a good player.”
Bringas, the 2022 Daily Breeze Girls Tennis Player of the Year, defeated Deng 3-5, 7-5, 6-2, earning her third consecutive Bay League championship. As a freshman, she won the league doubles title before winning the league’s singles championship last season as a sophomore.
Peninsula coach Mike Hoeger has noticed something about Bringas’ game over the course of the last three years that stands out even more.
“The key with (Bringas) is confidence,” Hoeger said. “She’s always done better in two or three sets. In dual meets (with only one set), it’s not enough time for her, because she’s very good at reading her opponent and deciphering their weaknesses.”
Hoeger pinpointed a tournament earlier in the season, the Point Loma tournament, where Bringas was playing against higher-ranked opponents, but was able to use her strengths to her advantage.
Bringas, who finished the season 28-6, said the toughest match this season came in that tournament against Villa Park’s Morgan Schaefer.
“I lost the first set (5-7), and I thought I was going to lose the match,” Bringas said. “It was really a test of my mental strength, because I was down (0-3) in the second set, came back to win in a tiebreak.”
Not only is Bringas Peninsula’s No. 1 singles player, she also participates on the International Tennis Federation junior circuit.
She mentioned the difficulty juggling school, where she takes three advanced placement and one honors classes, high school tennis and tournament play.
“I definitely have to be good at managing my time, especially trying to fit homework in at times when I wouldn’t,” Bringas said. “If I’m on the way to a tournament, I’d be trying to do homework.”
Hoeger noted Bringas’ game has only continued to develop, and he sees no reason for her game to tail off heading into her senior season.
“She’s always had a strong serve and is a good net player, but in the past she’s been cautious,” Hoeger said. “This year, her confidence level was higher, and she was more offensive.”
Brinjas recently made a verbal commitment to play collegiate tennis at UC Davis.
“Isa is a great team player, and has a powerful serve,” Hoeger said. “She’s always been a great doubles player, and I can see why college coaches got to her early. She has a game that will translate well in college, she just needs to continue to attack offensively and build her confidence.”
Coach of the Year
Kurt Hay, Palos Verdes
Beating rival Peninsula twice in one season isn’t something any of the Bay League schools can boast, but Palos Verdes accomplished that feat this season, securing the Sea Kings third league title in the last five years.
PV defeated Peninsula 15-2 and 12-6 in their matches.
“Our senior captains were ecstatic,” Hay said of the two wins over Peninsula. “They know how hard it is. Our freshmen weren’t surprised, but they were still excited.”
Hay, who has been with the girls program for four years, said the season stood out to him because of an influx of youth in the program.
PV was ranked third in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division and lost to Mater Dei in the semifinals and again in the CIF SoCal Regional final.
“What made this season extra special was the five freshmen we had that played at the varsity level,” he said. “We had our core group, and then an influx of freshmen. It set us up to be super deep and that depth made us competitive.”
All-Area
Singles
Mia Jovic, South Torrance, Sr.
Maegen Deng, Redondo, Sr.
Alisa Lanksy, Mira Costa, Soph.
Danielle Nikmehr, Palos Verdes, Fr.
Doubles
Cassie Blakey, Fr. and Stella-Simpson-Morgan, Soph., Palos Verdes
Madison James, Jr. and Anna Lisa Richeson, Fr., Bishop Montgomery
Caroline Chu, Soph. and Maily Huynh, Jr., Palos Verdes
