With just one match left in the regular season, against Fresno State this weekend, the Cal Poly women’s tennis team seeks its first Big West conference tournament title since 2003 and a run into the NCAA tournament.
Senior Brittany Blalock is looking forward to returning home in search of a Big West tournament title which will be held in Indian Wells, Calif beginning on April 29. Blalock has been playing on the courts at Indian Wells her entire life and is looking to lead the Mustangs with her knowledge of the venue.
Blalock, who lives about five minutes away from the tournament site, said the feeling is pretty special for her since she will be able to play in front of all her family and friends back home.
“I tend to play better when there’s a crowd so if I have people cheering for me I tend to rise to the occasion,” Blalock said. “It’s what you look for as an athlete, which is a chance to go out there and show your stuff in front of a lot of people.”
The Mustangs (14-6) have already eclipsed their win total of 12 from last season. Cal Poly is currently ranked No. 58 in the country and sits in second place with a 6-2 record in conference play. UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine could potentially tie the Mustangs with victories on Sunday. Long Beach State has secured first place with an undefeated 8-0 record in conference play and is currently ranked No. 40 in the nation. The conference has had four teams ranked nationally including Cal Poly.
The Mustangs are led by seniors Suzie Matzenauer, Steffi Wong, Diane Filip and Blalock. They occupy the first four spots for the Mustangs, and Matzenaeur and Blalock have both been nationally ranked this year. Blalock said this season has been a rewarding experience, including a 7-0 sweep of UC Riverside on senior day.
“I’ve worked my whole life to play college tennis and to start as a freshman and to grow and to now have our best year as a senior has been really fun and exciting,” Blalock said.
Assistant coach Andy Gerst said the four seniors have provided great leadership and competed in every practice and match.
“I couldn’t picture having better senior leadership anywhere else in the country,” Gerst said. “They’ve been awesome on the court and in the classroom and have been perfect examples for the younger girls on the team.”
Blalock said the expectations for the team was to win the Big West tournament and qualify for the NCAA tourney. With one match remaining, the team is trying to peak as the postseason gets closer.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good spot right now,” Blalock said. “We’re tied for the second seed right now and feel like we are in a good position to do well in the upcoming weeks.”
Blalock attributed much of its success this season to how close the team is, both on and off the court. She said despite having different personalities amongst the team, everyone has the same goals and belief in one another. Gerst said the team is like a family, more concerned about the well-being of everyone instead of individual success.
“When you have a bunch of selfless athletes who are out there to benefit the team before themselves and who really care and want the best for each other it turns into a great environment for success,” Gerst said.
Gerst said the team has developed a confidence within themselves and has competed against whomever their opponents are.
“We come out with a swagger and an edge to us. All our girls are super confident and aren’t afraid to get after anybody,” Gerst said. “They’re extremely competitive and committed day-in and day-out.”
With only one match remaining in the regular season, the Mustangs are excited for the opportunity that awaits them in the postseason. Head coach Hugh Bream said he is looking forward to the last match against Fresno State and the chance to do something special at the Big West tournament. He said the team is extremely fit and has willed themselves to play with passion throughout the year.
“I just think that we are capable on a given day of beating any team in the country,” Bream said. “We’re playing really well right now so I’m looking forward to the tournament. The Big West has been tough all year from top to bottom.”
No matter what the results may be, Gerst said he is excited to watch the team compete at the highest level and wants them to cherish the moment. He said the postseason is the most fun portion of the season — when all the excitement begins.
“This is what we live for as players and coaches,” Gerst said. “We’ve put in all this hard work over the year and now is the time that we get to see it culminate and play our best tennis. It will be neat to watch the girls go out and compete their butts off like they have all year.”