The Santa Barbara High doubles team of Lexy Gulden and Olivera Tadijin joined forces late in the season, but they outlasted everyone in the area, reaching the Round of 16 in the CIF-SS Individual Tournament.
The Dons’ run came to end on Wednesday as they fell to Alex Balenstein and Mikey Barthelmess of Laguna Hills, 6-1, 6-4, at the Seal Beach Tennis Center.
“This tournament started with 1,056 entries and it’s made up of league champions or runners-up,” Santa Barbara coach Steve Geremia said. “You make it to the Round of 16, that’s a pretty great tournament. We’re so proud of our young women. They played very good tennis throughout.”
Gulden and Tadijin were the Channel League runners-up, losing a tough three-set final against teammates Megan Grant and Madison Hale.
The team was put together at the end of October and the players turned out to be a good fit.
“They struck the ball very well,” Geremia said. “They played against a team that had more doubles experience. Both teams hit the ball the same.
“We’re very proud of our team from Santa Barbara High.”
