The Cal Poly women’s tennis team’s bid for a championship came to an end during the semifinal phase on Saturday afternoon, as the 63rd-ranked Mustangs dropped a 4-2 decision against the 45th-ranked 49ers at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Cal Poly (16-7) opened the match versus Long Beach State (19-5) by dropping the doubles point for just the fifth time in 23 spring matches. At No. 1, the 49th-ranked Mustang senior pairing of Brittany Blalock and Suzie Matzenauer improved to 17-3 by defeating Jaklin Alawi and Rachel Manasse. Senior Steffi Wong and freshman Alexa Lee fell at No. 2 against Anais Dallara and Deborah Armstrong. Senior Diane Filip and freshman Ashley Pane then surrendered the point at No. 3 with an loss versus Julie Luzar and Sarah Cantlay.
Long Beach State opened singles play by capturing the initial two points as Armstrong prevailed versus Wong at No. 3 before Manasse topped Filip.The 100th-ranked Matzenauer broke the 49er streak at No. 2 by defeating Dallara. Lee then produced a victory against Anna Jeczmionka at No. 5 before Long Beach State solidified the win at No. 6, as Cantlay bested sophomore Jocelyn Davis. Blalock, two points shy of victory, had her match at No. 1 versus Alawi scratched.
“It was a hard-fought match and I thought we played really well in doubles. Suzie and Brittany played the type of tennis they can expect in the NCAA Singles Championships – we hope, if they’re selected – and we competed well at No. 2 and 3. But, the doubles point proved critical to the match,” said head coach Hugh Bream. “The team worked hard all season long and improved tremendously, but Long Beach State was the better team today. I’m proud of the players and the character they showed all season long.”