Westlake Pairs Up to Defeat Simi Valley

Jaclyn Kansky was feeling the effects of heat and exertion after a tiebreaker in the second round of Westlake High’s girls’ tennis match against Simi Valley on Tuesday.

In an attempt to cool her off, the player’s mother doused her with water.

But not before Kansky and No. 2 doubles partner Nicole Mead helped dampen the hopes of Simi Valley in a 10-8 Marmonte League victory over the defending-champion Pioneers at Rancho Simi Community Park.

The 7-6 (10-8) win by Kansky and Mead over Simi Valley’s No. 3 team of Katie Franklin and Lindsay Fredrickson gave unbeaten Westlake (8-0, 4-0) a 7-5 lead that stood up.

“I just kept playing it out and drinking my water,” said Kansky, who dropped to the ground with an upset stomach and trembling hands immediately following the tiebreaker.

The victory was the only one of the day for the Warriors’ No. 2 team, but it was critical in light of Simi Valley’s superiority in doubles. A loss might have forced the match into a tie to be decided on games.

“I was frustrated, really, because I couldn’t play well,” Kansky said. “We knew we had to have that match.”

Kansky eventually recovered. The same could not be said of Simi Valley (7-1, 3-1), which had won at least seven doubles sets in every match but took only six against Westlake, which is ranked No. 2 in Southern Section Division III.

The Pioneers, who swept Westlake last season, had doubles trouble early, when the previously unbeaten No. 1 team of Margo O’Donnell and Andrea Espinoza (now 23-1 in sets) dropped a 6-2 decision to Westlake sisters Brittany and Nicole Jensky in the first round.

That set and another 6-2 first-round loss by Simi Valley’s of Franklin and Fredrickson to Westlake’s Lindsay Weiss and Lauren Cardoni set the tone.

The Pioneers, ranked ninth in the Division I coaches’ poll, fell short despite three-set sweeps by Mindy Gondrez at No. 1 singles and by the No. 2 doubles team of Rebecca Hunau and Stella Chu. Hunau and Chu remained unbeaten at 24-0 in sets this season.