Cal Poly women’s tennis juniors Brittany Blalock and Steffi Wong were eliminated in the second round of qualifying play at the 2008 Riveria/Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championship on Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.
The Mustangs’ top doubles team, ranked No. 31 by the ITA, fell to No. 16 Carolina Escamilla and Christine Johnston of Kentucky, 8-6. The loss was their first of the season.
“I thought the girls really started the year playing at the same level or maybe even a little better than they finished last year,” Cal Poly head coach Hugh Bream said in a statement.
Escamilla and Johnston, who were seeded third in the qualifying draw, defeated Maria Sanchez and Alison Ramos of USC, 8-4.
Blalock and Wong, who went 23-11 last season, advanced to the second round after beating Alabama’s Paulina Bigos and Tiffany Welcher 8-6 in the first round.
Blalock and Wong, along with their teammates, will return to action at the Cal State Fullerton Fall Intercollegiate Tournament from Oct. 10 to 12.