No. 52 Cal Poly women’s tennis (18-3, 7-1 Big West) took a 6-1 victory over UC Irvine (10-10, 1-6 Big West) in their final home match of the season.
However, this match was special. Not just because it continued the team’s nine-match winning streak, or because it pushed the Mustangs to 18-3 on the year.
Cal Poly celebrated and recognized three seniors, Peyton Dunkle, Romane Mosse, and Eliza Bates, for their incredible careers. The Mustangs also recognized Team Impact member Brooke.
In the final home match of her career, Dunkle rewrote Cal Poly tennis history in front of more than 30 supporters watching from the top deck at the Comerford Pavilion.
Going into the match, she was tied with Carol Erickson for the most career wins in Cal Poly history with 51 total victories.
The moment that enshrined her at the top of the Cal Poly record books came on court No. 2, where she took on UC Irvine’s Amanda Perez.
Dunkle cruised to take the first set 6-2, showing no signs of tightness, nervousness, or pressure. With the moment looming close, her sights were set on that record, and she went out swinging.
“Going into the match, I knew what could happen, but I wasn’t really thinking any differently. I always want to win, but it wasn’t on my mind”, Dunkle said. “But during that last game, it was like an out-of-body experience, with everyone watching me waiting for the moment.”
She went on to take the second set in 6-2 fashion, becoming the first Cal Poly tennis player to hit 52 career singles victories.
Mosse also started her senior day strong. She paired up with junior Kennedy Buntrock at doubles line No. 1.
The duo had everything working for them, from the baseline to the net, and took down their opponents quickly, 6-1. They lead all Mustang doubles teams with 12 wins on the season.
Freshman Jessica MacCallum and sophomore Natalie Lynch clinched the doubles point for Cal Poly at line No. 3.
With the Mustangs leading 1-0 early, the packed Ronca Tennis Center was buzzing with energy. Eyes shifted immediately to court No. 1 to Kennedy Buntrock.
Buntrock was off to a great start early, looking to break out of a four-match losing streak. Competing to get back in the win column, she put on a singles clinic.
Her opponent, Carolyna Fowler, a tall-lanky lefty with loopy groundstrokes was not an easy opponent. Buntrock favored her cross-court backhand, and ultimately that meant she would be playing into a tricky matchup with Fowler’s forehand.
However, Buntrock executed on every shot and forced her opponent into countless errors; she broke Fowler’s serve six times in the match and easily cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Next up, with a breeze of a match, Big West Freshman of the Year candidate Jessica MacCallum prevailed on court No. 5.
MacCallum won in 6-1, 6-0 fashion, leading the Mustangs in singles victories this year with 17, moving her up the record books as well. She is tied for 7th most singles wins in a season.
Mosse, now battling on court No. 3, carried her earlier doubles momentum to the singles court.
She won, clinching the match for the Mustangs with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 finish. The shouts of “Allez Romane” echoed from all parts of the complex as she put the match to bed.
Lynch also didn’t back down on court No. 6. After she won a shaky first set 7-5, she dialed in during the second set and to win 6-1. Her record now stands at 15-4 this season, with the second most wins for the Mustangs.
With one match left on court No. 4, both teams line up and huddle around the two last standing singles warriors.
Junior Sasha Ozerets took the court for the Mustangs, and she is no stranger to a marathon match.
Ozerets dropped the first set 5-7, but bounced back 6-4 in the second set to send the match to a third-set 10-point tiebreaker.
UC Irvine’s Hayley Huynh was a fierce competitor in the 10-point sprint, as she jumped out to an early lead and never wavered.
Ozerets ultimately fell 10-3 in the tiebreaker, giving Irvine their only win on the day.
Looking ahead, the Mustangs play their final match of the season versus Blue-Green Rival No. 41 UC Santa Barbara (13-8, 8-0 Big West).
The winner of that match will receive the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big West Conference Tournament, and the loser will be the No. 2 seed.
