JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ON THE ROAD—Rachel Bitter and the Westlake High girls' tennis team travel to Dana Hills today for a firstround match in the CIFSS Division I playoffs. Dana Hills went 19-1 during the regular season and won a league title, while Westlake posted a 10-8 mark. Finally, all those grueling tennis practices start to pay off.

With league play now finished, the playoffs for local high school girls' tennis teams are underway this week.

In the CIF-Southern Section Division I bracket, Calabasas High is the Marmonte League's No. 1 seed after going 163 overall, 13-1 in league. The Coyotes, who lost a league game this season for the first time since 2002, will play Notre Dame Sherman Oaks today at home.

Notre Dame, the No. 3 seed from the Mission League, went 97 overall, 6-4 in league.

Calabasas head coach Cleo Harper believes his team is currently playing its best tennis of the season thanks to the return of Sabrina ManSonHing, the Coyotes' top singles player. ManSonHing returned to the court three weeks ago after a leave of absence to deal with a family issue.

"With Sabrina back, the rest of the lineup has settled down and fallen into place," Harper said. "The singles and doubles teams have been the same for a couple weeks, and it seems the team is now starting to peak."

Harper said he knows nothing about Notre Dame, and that's just the way he likes it.

"The way we look at it is we have no control of the other team," Harper said. "No matter who we play, we're still going to come out and play our best.

"A coach could tell me what he thinks about the opponent and what to expect, but that's just his opinion. The opponent's style of play may change depending on who they're playing."

Westlake, which went 10-8 overall and 8-6 in the Marmonte League, opens the playoffs on the road against Dana Hills, the top seed from the South Coast League. Dana Hills went 19-1, 10-0 in league.

"The kids realize Dana Hills is a very good team, and it will be tough to win," Westlake head coach Connie Flanderka said.

"The team, however, is very excited they made the playoffs. We're just going to go out there and give it our best shot."

In the Division III bracket, La Reina opens at home against Alhambra, the No. 2 seed from the Almont League. La Reina, the Tri-Valley League champion, went 14-0 overall, 10-0 in league. The Regents enter the playoffs as the fourthranked team in the CIFSS Division III coaches' poll.

Oaks Christian, the No. 2 seed out of the TVL, opens today at home against Arroyo Grande, the No. 2 seed from the PAC 7 League. Oaks Christian went 104 overall, 7-3 in league play.

In Division V, Viewpoint earned a bye and the bracket's top overall seed after going 12-4, 7-0 in the Liberty League. Viewpoint will begin its postseason tonight at home against Chaffey.

Other local teams beginning postseason play today include Simi Valley at Troy, Moorpark on the road against Peninsula and Rio Mesa at home against Norwalk.