After a week off from match-play, the Mustangs (3-2) welcomed in the Washington State Cougars (6-2) and Fresno State Bulldogs (4-2) to the Ronca Tennis Center for a Friday and Sunday showdown.
Cal Poly finished the weekend by splitting the matches 1-1 with a commanding 7-0 win on Friday and a gripping 3-4 defeat on Sunday.
Sweeping Washington State
Women’s tennis got off to a blazing hot start to the weekend duels with their 7-0 sweep over a tough Washington State team.
The Cougars entered the weekend looking to improve on their successful campaign, going 6-1 to start the year.
The Mustangs had other plans for the afternoon. They only dropped two sets in total throughout the day and cruised to their first sweep of the season.
To get the action started, Cal Poly’s tandem of redshirt sophomore Amy Leather and senior Sarah MacCallum clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-2) tiebreaker at line No. 3.
The duo is now 3-1 on the season.
The Mustangs grabbed a 1-0 early lead and never looked back.
On court No. 1, junior Kennedy Buntrock kept her undefeated singles record going. With a 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 victory, she improves to 3-0 on the year.
Returning to the court playing line No. 2 was senior Peyton Dunkle.
Dunkle has been sidelined to start the season with a lingering wrist injury, but her recovery is a welcomed sight for this Mustang team.
She got her singles season debut off to a great start, taking a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) victory.
Junior Sasha Ozerets was battling her normal battle on court No. 3. Ozerets’ play always seems to improve over longer matches, and this one was no different. She prevailed in a three-setter 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.
Ozerets also carries an undefeated singles record on the year, 3-0.
On lines No. 4-6, senior Romane Mosse, freshman Jessica MacCallum, and sophomore Natalie Lynch rounded out the 7-0 sweep for the Mustangs, all winning their respective matches in straight sets.
Sunday’s thriller against Fresno State
Under the newly constructed lights at the Ronca Tennis Center, the Mustangs battled to the last point against the Fresno State Bulldogs in a 3-4 defeat in Sunday’s matchup.
The Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead after capturing the overall doubles point in a split decision and were victorious in the first singles contest.
It would be the freshman Jessica MacCallum on singles court No. 5 to get the Mustangs on the board.
MacCallum played a solid match and took down her opponent 6-0, 7-5. She is currently on a three-match singles win streak.
Quickly after that, Cal Poly was facing an uneasy 3-1 deficit, needing to win every match to take the overall duel advantage.
Mosse would deliver a 7-5, 6-2 victory on court No. 4 to tighten up the score for the Mustangs.
Bulldogs are still on top 3-2.
Natalie Lynch would deliver the much-needed equalizer for Cal Poly playing strong at line No. 6.
The sophomore was pushed to a third set after taking the first set 6-2 and dropping the next 5-7. Lynch found her groove in that third set grabbing a 6-4 victory.
Mustangs and Bulldogs even at three a piece.
Embracing another marathon match would be Ozerets on court No. 3.
After falling in the first set 3-6, Ozerets started to roll and looked fearless in the second set evening 6-1, forcing a deciding third set.
Externally, her chances seemed to have been slim late into the third set after falling into a 5-3 hole, but with her back against the wall, Ozerets held her serve and broke her opponent to stay alive.
The two continued to duel until the score was knotted at 6-6.
A seven-point tiebreaker would decide the fate of the Bulldogs and Mustangs late-night contest.
Ozerets would ultimately fall in that tie-breaker in a grueling 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7) match as the Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs in dramatic fashion.
Cal Poly will remain at home and look to their next opponent, the undefeated San Jose State Spartans (3-0), on Sunday.
