Facing top-seeded and undefeated teams on the road, La Reina and Rio Mesa met the same fate on Thursday afternoon.

The county's only remaining high school girls' tennis playoff teams lost in the semifinals of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

La Reina lost to Valencia 14-4 in Division III at Placentia while Rio Mesa lost to St. Margaret's 15-3 in Division IV in San Juan Capistrano.

"They were just deep," La Reina head coach Bowie Hahn said of Valencia. "There wasn't one player who didn't have decent skills in their doubles. They were deep all the way around."

Rio Mesa head coach Steve Worthington knew his team's first playoff road test could be bumpy against St. Margaret's (23-0).

"They are No. 1 for a reason," Worthington said. "They are a good team and very consistent. They are not necessarily overpowering in terms of brute force, but they are very steady."

La Reina modified its lineup to face Valencia, the defending Division IV champion. Senior Ellie Workman and freshman Terra Bjerken teamed to sweep their doubles sets.

Although disappointed she didn't end her career with a CIF title, Workman was pleased with her senior-laden team's performance overall.

The Tri-Valley League champion Regents (17-2), whose only other loss came to Rio Mesa, spent four years building for this season's run.

"It's been incredible," Workman said. "We were talking on the bus about how unified and spirited we are, and we beat all the teams we should have beaten. This season was perfect."

Rio Mesa senior Candace Scholler was the only singles player to win a set for the Spartans (19-2) with a 6-4 victory over Hannah Hurr.

"This season was a great experience overall," Scholler said. "I am so glad that I could end my high school career going to the semifinals of CIF and winning my last match. That felt really good."

Worthington didn't want his players to dwell on the ending. He wanted them to remember a journey that included the team's third straight Pacific View League title.

"We have no regrets," Worthington said. "We are celebrating a successful season. This is no time to sulk. It's time to raise our heads and be proud of everything we accomplished."

Hahn reminded his players to do the same during a celebratory dinner before the drive home.

"For most of these guys, they will never have any kind of experience like this in athletics again," Hahn said. "It's very special."