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The Castilleja girls’ tennis team seems to prefer accomplishing things with the highest level of drama.
For the second consecutive day, the Gators waited until the absolute final rally to secure a 4-3 victory in the West Bay Athletic League Foothill Division, this time over Crystal Springs Uplands at Rinconda Park in Palo Alto on Friday.
Following wins from freshman Julia Zeitlin at No. 1 singles, sophomore Lucy Slinger at No. 2 singles, and sophomores Paisley de Blank and Donya Gharachorloo at No., 1 doubles, Castilleja (3-2) was ahead.
Two of the first five matches went to third set tiebreakers and the last two doubles matches were no different.
Both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches switched sides at 6-6. Seniors Aramis Mendoza and Sierra Stark lost the first set and had to fight through a tough second set to make it to the tiebreaker. In the end, the two seniors prevailed winning the tiebreaker, 10-7, and giving Castilleja the victory.
“It was an awesome match to be a part of and an incredible performance by the Gators,” Casti coach Cassie Peters said. “They showed great courage in all the big moments. This team is on the rise, improving every single day. We couldn’t be prouder of this group of student-athletes.”
Castilleja returns to WBAL action Tuesday afternoon with a match against visiting Nueva. Menlo School travels to Notre Dame in Belmont for a match Monday afternoon and hosts Sacred Heart Prep on Tuesday afternoon.
In the Skyline Division, Pinewood beat host Notre Dame, 4-3, at Backesto Park in San Jose on Friday.
Priory dropped a 4-3 decision to hoist The King’s Academy earlier in the week.
Priory hosts The King’s Academy and Pinewood hosts Mercy Burlingame, both on Monday afternoon.
Soccer
The Gunn boys have not lost a league match since Feb. 8, 2019. The Titans are 12-0-2 since that loss to Lynbrook.
Gunn junior Dane Jefferson recorded a hat trick in Friday’s 5-2 SCVAL De Anza Division victory over visiting Santa Clara.
Jefferson scored an early goal, with an assist from senior Alexis Bromberg, and freshman Marcello Chang added a goal, assisted by Jonathan Harden, to give the Titans (3-0-1) a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The Bruins (1-1-1) tied the match 25 minutes into the second half but it was all Gunn the rest of the way.
Jefferson completed his hat trick with a pair goals, assisted by seniors Alex de Lecea and Nickolas Romero, respectively.
Senior Christo Hristov scored the final goal, with Bromberg, one of Gunn’s top defenders, recording his second assist.
Gunn travels to play at Los Altos on Tuesday.
Senior Chris Chen scored for Palo Alto, though the Vikings lost to host Homestead, 2-1, Friday.
In girls’ action, Palo Alto played the visiting Mustangs to a scoreless draw.
Gunn fell to the host Bruins, 1-0.
Girls volleyball
Menlo School beat Harker, 30-28, 25-11, 25-13, in its first volleyball match at home since October 2019.
Menlo junior Simone Adam led the attack with 17 kills, 13 digs and two aces in the West Bay Athletic League match.
Junior Hanna Hoffman chipped in with 32 assists, two blocks, three aces and eight digs. Kami Israelski added eight kills and 10 digs while fellow juniors Alli McKenney and Hallie MacDonald added 11 kills and seven digs.
Menlo returns to action on Monday with a home match against Sacred Heart Prep.
Water polo
Gavin West scored four goals and the Sacred Heart Prep boys team beat host Bellarmine 17-8 on Friday.
Will Swart added a pair of goals and four assists as the Gators (5-0) remain undefeated on the season. Luke Weigle. Jake Tsotadze and Luke Hammarskjold each added a pair of goals.
Swart scored both of his goals in the first period as the Gators scored the game’s first three goals and never looked back.
West, who also drew three exclusions, scored the first three goals of the second period and SHP scored six straight to take control of the match.
Griff Price recorded seven saves and had a .778 save percentage in the first half. Wyatt Stenson played the second half, accumulating eight saves and a .571 save percentage.
