Top-ranked Dons take out Div. 1 Harvard-Westlake

Santa Barbara appears to be playing its best tennis as the postseason approaches.

The Dons, the No. 1-ranked team in CIF Division 2, rolled past Division 1 eighth-ranked Harvard Westlake, 15-3, in a non-league match on Monday at the Santa Barbara courts.

“This was one of our better performances of the year,” Santa Barbara coach Steve Geremia said. “We played well today even though we’re tired from last week.”

The Dons, who wrapped up their 31st straight league title with wins over San Marcos and Dos Pueblos last week, played at the Dana Hills Coastal Championships, where they went 3-1 and finished fifth.

Aurora Garrison went 3-0 in singles sets and the doubles team of Lisa Santry-Karina Thornton swept their three sets. Taryn Mjelde went 3-0 in doubles in two partners. She won two sets with Marianna Alevra and finished the day with a 7-6 tiebreaking win with Emily Baum.

“Emily Baum is the student-body president and hasn’t been able to play many matches. It was nice to see her play her last (regular season) match at home and win,” said Geremia.

The Dons will next play in the Channel League Individual Tournament at Buena, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Santa Barbara 15, Harvard Westlake 3

Singles—SB: Summer Garrison 2-0, Madeline Cutler 0-1, Mattea Kilstofte 2-0, Alexis Guilden 0-1. Aurora Garrison 3-0.

HW: Christina Turnbull 0-3, Sabrina Zaks 1-2, Margeaux Craske-Curtin 1-2.

Doubles—SB: Madison Hale-Megan Grant 2-0. Kelli Martindale-Hailey DeBoer 0-1, Lisa Santry-Karina Thornton 3-0, Taryn Mjelde-Marianna Alevra 2-0, Mjelde-Baum 1-0.