Irvine Valley men's tennis player Thallys Santos, who was a two-year standout during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, has signed with NAIA Westcliff University in Irvine.
Santos helped Irvine Valley to a No. 8 ranking in the state as a freshman in final Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association State Rankings in 2018.
Santos stood out in doubles. He teamed with Michael Bott, who now plays at NCAA Division I Boise State. The duo ended up being ranked No. 4 in the state. Santos and Bott made the semifinals of the state tournament, winning four matches at the event.
Irvine Valley finished the year with a record of 6-10 overall (four losses to four-year colleges), took third in the Orange Empire Conference with a 6-4 mark and made a strip to the So. Cal. Regional Team Playoffs.
Santos was also ranked No. 64 in singles in the final 2018 rankings.
In his most recent season at Irvine Valley in 2019, the Lasers had a 12-2 record overall and earned an Orange Empire Conference title with a record of 8-0.
IVC was one step away from making the team state championship, losing in the regional final to College of the Desert. The team came in at No. 3 in the final Oracle/ITA state rankings.
Santos was ranked No. 15 in So. Cal. in doubles with teammate Mateo Maya. The duo won a match in state before getting knocked out in the round of 32.
Santos is headed to a Westcliff team that will begin its first official season in 2021.
