by Eunice Lee
The 2026 Santa Catalina Varsity Tennis Team (photo by Coach Klein)
The Santa Catalina tennis team has made one thing clear this season: they are not planning on slowing down anytime soon. After opening the season with a 5-2 victory over Castilleja on Sept. 11, the Cougars went on to win their next nine matches, bringing their record to an undefeated 10-0 overall and 6-0 in league play.
The team’s success has come from both its depth and its ability to stay composed when matches get close. In the season opener against Castilleja, Alexia Robinson, Avani Singh, Jessica Urtusuastegui and Fiona Fang each won their singles matches in straight sets. At No. 1 doubles, Chloe Thompson and Stacey Kim battled through an early deficit and forced a match tiebreak after winning the second set. Although they ultimately fell short, their fight set the tone for a team willing to compete through every point.
The Cougars continued that momentum the following day at the Santa Catalina Tennis Invitational. Catalina defeated Mercy High School 7-0 before earning a 5-2 victory over Stevenson. Against Stevenson, Thompson and Kim dominated at No. 1 doubles, winning 6-1, 6-2 to secure the team victory. Regina Cajiga and Ivonne De La Vega Kastis also fought through a three-set doubles match, winning the deciding tiebreak 10-7.
League play brought more close competition, but Catalina continued to find ways to win. On Sept. 25, the Cougars defeated Carmel 6-1, highlighted by four straight-set singles victories. The No. 3 doubles team of Zamina Singh and Chloe Wigdahl provided one of the day’s closest finishes, winning a match tiebreak 14-12.
The team followed that performance with victories over Pacific Grove and Sacred Heart Prep. Against Pacific Grove, Catalina won 6-1, with strong doubles performances from Stacey Kim and Chloe Thompson, Zamina Singh and Chloe Wigdahl, and Zoey Schlenker and Ivonne De La Vega. The team also benefited from players on the sidelines, including Avani Singh, Georgia Dotto, Taelen Jones, Magdalena Pablos and Andrea Fernandez Coppel, whose support and match scouting contributed to the team effort.
Ivonna De La Vega Kastis serves in a doubles match.
The Cougars continued their winning streak with a 7-0 sweep of Carmel on Sept. 29. One of the day’s biggest comebacks came from Magdalena Pablos at No. 4 singles. After dropping the first set 2-6, Pablos fought back to win the second 6-2 before taking the match tiebreak 10-8.
The next day, Catalina defeated Salinas 7-0. Avani Singh returned to the singles lineup with a 6-0, 6-1 victory, while Andrea Fernandez Coppel and Zoey Schlenker stepped in at No. 2 doubles and earned a 6-3, 6-0 win. Georgia Dotto and Taelen Jones also closed out a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 3 doubles.
Most recently, Catalina defeated Pacific Grove 7-0 on Oct. 5. Alexia Robinson Bours battled through a tight match at No. 1 singles, winning a deciding match tiebreak 10-8. Meanwhile, Thompson and Kim controlled their No. 1 doubles match from the beginning, winning 6-1, 6-3, and Fiona Fang continued her dominant season with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 4 singles.
With ten wins and no losses, Catalina’s strongest advantage may be its depth. Different players have stepped into different positions, close matches have been fought through, and teammates have continued supporting one another from the sidelines. With their consistency and strong spirit, the Cougars are well positioned to build on their undefeated start.
