Santa Barbara High’s Mattea Kilstofte
Buena’s Caisey Lee Emery
Santa Barbara High teammates Mattea Kilstofte and Summer Garrison will meet in Thursday’s Channel League Singles Championship after winning semifinal matches on Tuesday at Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club.
Kilstofte defeated Buena’s Caisey Lee Emery 6-3, 6-0. It was an upset of sorts as Emery topped Kilstofte twice in the regular season and came into the tournament as the higher seed.
“I was just trying to be aggressive. She’s a very good, consistent player,” Kilstofte said. “So I just had to be aggressive and play really well to beat her.”
Kilstofte lost to Emery 6-1 last time they played.
“It was a major turnaround and demonstrates the fine tennis that she can play,” said Dons head coach Steve Geremia of Kilstofte.
Only a sophomore, Kilstofte will play in her second league championship.
Top-seeded Garrison came from behind to top teammate – and housemate – Olivera Tadijin 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Tadijin, an exchange student from Serbia, is being hosted by the Garrisons.
“We train together too, you know, so yesterday we starting looking at each other, looking for each other’s weaknesses,” Garrison said.
Garrison’s serving was a weakness early on and helped Tadijan win the first set.
“I have a new grip right now so I’m just frustrated with it. But then I just did second serve first and that kind of got me through,” Garrison explained.
The championship match between Garrison and Kilstofte will be played on Thursday afternoon at a location to be determined.
The singles tournament began on Monday with 15 players.
The Channel League’s doubles tournament begins on Wednesday at Dos Pueblos.
Olivera
Summer Garrison
