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The first-year Gunn girls' golf team continued to prove itself against established programs as the Titans posted a 234-251 nonleague victory over Sacred Heart Prep on Monday at Sharon Heights Country Club.

Gunn's one-two punch of Jayshree Sarathy and Anna Zhou helped knock out the Gators (3-3) as Sarathy shot a 2-over 38 and Zhou followed with an uncharacteristically high 45 after twice shooting 1-under rounds last week.

It was the Titans' second win over SHP this season in the first of three straight matches for the Titans (5-1) this week.

Gunn returns to Blossom Valley Athletic League action on Tuesday and Wednesday, visiting Live Oak before hosting Sobrato at 3:30 p.m.

Castilleja, the only team to defeat Gunn this season, remained unbeaten with a 212-255 victory over Menlo School in West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) action Monday at Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course.

The Gators improved to 3-0 in league (4-0 overall) as Taylor Wilkerson and Chloe Sales shared medalist honors with 3-over 40s. Nicole Mitchell shot 45 and her sister, Danielle, shot 46. Jessie Rong shot 41 for Menlo and teammate Caroline Broderick shot 46.

Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo will meet Wednesday at Palo Alto Hills (3 p.m.), with the Gators needing to win to remain in second place in the WBAL. SHP will take on Castilleja next Tuesday at Sharon Heights in the first of two head-to-head meetings at 3 p.m.

Girls' tennis
Getting a sweep in the doubles, Sacred Heart Prep opened its WBAL Foothill Division schedule with a 5-2 victory over visiting Notre Dame-San Jose on Monday. Caroline Nordman and Kate Ackley provided victories at No. 1 and 4 singles as the Gators improved to 5-3 overall.

The Gators have another busy three-match week after going 2-1 last week with wins over Menlo-Atherton and Gunn. A loss to Palo Alto midweek, however, ruined an otherwise solid week.

Elsewhere on Monday, Gunn stepped out of the comforts of the SCVAL El Camino Division and was topped by host Milpitas of the De Anza Division, 5-2. The Titans (6-6) were swept in singles while winning points at No. 2 and three doubles.

Menlo School will open defense of its WBAL title on Tuesday after going 1-3 at the Dana Hills tournament last weekend in Southern California.

Menlo lost its opening match to tough Capistrano Valley, 5-3, but rebounded with a 5-3 win over No. 2-seeded Dana Hills. On Saturday, the Knights tied Corona Del Mar, 4-4, but lost the match on total games won (42-38). Menlo's final match was an 8-0 loss to Hawaii state champion Iolani.

Menlo had great efforts from No. 1 singles player Liz Yao, who lost only one match all weekend.

The Knights start the WBAL season with a rare losing record (5-7), but have a streak of 188 straight league matches ongoing.

Cross country
The season for runners shifts into high gear this week, starting with Tuesday's Central Park Preview in Santa Clara, which includes Gunn and Palo Alto.

Most of the area teams will compete on Saturday at the annual Stanford Invitational at the Stanford Golf Course.

Girls' volleyball
The WBAL Foothill Division season gets under way Tuesday with division co-favorites Menlo and Sacred Heart Prep both playing at home.

Palo Alto (2-0, 13-3), meanwhile, goes after its 17th straight SCVAL De Anza Division victory against visiting Monta Vista on Tuesday before heading to Mountain View on Thursday. Menlo-Atherton (2-0, 4-5) will seek its 21st consecutive PAL Bay Division victory against visiting Aragon on Tuesday before the Bears host Burlingame on Thursday, both at 5:30 p.m.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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