Santa Barbara High came close to pulling off the upset of the tournament at the CIF Southern Regionals at the Claremont Club on Friday. The Dons took No. 2 seed Torrey Pines down to the wire before falling 4-3.
With the San Diego Section champions leading 3-2, only two matches remained. Mattea Kilstofte of the Dons and Hannah Zhao split the the first two sets in their best-of-three singles match while Cade Sorensen and Marianna Alvera were locked in a three-setter with the Torrey Pines team of Agostina Waisfeld / Tasia Mochernak. Sorensen/Alvera outlasted the Torre Pines duo, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6.
Zhao, one of the top-ranked players in California, pulled out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Kilstofte for the clinching win.
“Even though Torrey Pines came into the match as the heavy favorite our girls went toe to toe with them and came so very close to pulling off a major upset,” said Santa Barbara coach Greg Tebbe.
Madison Hale opened the scoring for the Dons by trouncing her opponent 6-0,6-1. Torrey Pines then won at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles to take a 2-1 lead. Carolina Turri played at No. 4 singles for the Dons and lost a hard fought match 7-5, 4-6, giving Torrey Pines a 3-1 lead.
Summer Garrison dug deep and kept the Dons alive with a thrilling victory at No. 2 singles, She saved five match points against Kelsey Chen and won 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, taking the third set in a tiebreaker.
“I could not be prouder of this team,” Tebbe said. “They came into the match believing they could win and they fought for each and every point. As a coach, you always want to see your team improve as the season progresses and this was certainly the best match of our season. Our senior class can be proud of the way they finished their careers. They represented SBHS with pride and I am happy to have had the opportunity to coach them.
“Losing to arguably the No. 2 team in the state by the slimmest of margins is an impressive result.”
The Dons will continue playing tennis in the CIF individual tournament. Summer Garrison is in singles and Madison Hale and Mattea Kilstofte are partnering in the doubles, which takes place Monday at Cate and Carpinteria HIgh.
Santa Barbara finishes the season 20-7.
Torrey Pines 4, Santa Barbara 3
#1 singles: Hannah Zhao (Torrey Pines) defeated Mattea Kilstofte (SB) 6-3,5-7,6-3
#2 singles: Summer Garrison (SB) defeated Kelsey Chen (TP) 3-6,6-4,7-6
#3 singles: Madison Hale (SB) defeated Alexa Meyer (TP) 6-1, 6-0
#4 singles: Sofia Beachboard (TP) defeated Carolina Turri (SB) 7-5, 6-4
#1 doubles: Cade Sorensen / Marianna Alevra (SB) defeated Agostina Waisfeld / Tasia Mochernak (TP) 6-4,4-6.7-6
#2 doubles: CC Schwab / Katay Wang (TP) defeated Lexy Gulden / Brooke Morison (SB) 6-1, 6-3
#3 doubles: Michelle Hag / Jessica Walker (TP) defeated Hope Dalton / Mackenzie Monroe (SB) 6-0, 6-1
