Ryan ChartrandLast weekend concluded in both a slim win and loss for the Cal Poly women’s tennis team. The Mustangs sealed a 4-3 victory at Loyola Marymount on Friday but lost 4-3 at Cal State Northridge the following day.
“We played pretty well in both (matches),” Cal Poly sophomore Steffi Wong said. “We came out really strong at Loyola. Against Northridge, I feel like we lost by a matter of points. It was so close and it could’ve gone either way.”
Cal Poly took the doubles point against Loyola Marymount, as Shannon Brady and Amy Markhoff defeated Jasmin Heckel and Tina Razloznik 9-7.
Diane Filip and Maria Malec defeated Audrey Bulkley and Shauna Morgan 8-3. Lions Pavla Mesterova and Tamara Tanner narrowly defeated Cal Poly’s 36th-ranked tandem of Brittany Blalock and Wong 8-6.
Singles triumphs alternated through the six matches, as Blalock, Whitney Peterson and Malec fell to the Lions, while Wong, Filip and Markhoff won.
“It was really satisfying for the girls and a step in a positive direction,” Mustangs head coach Hugh Bream said.
The Saturday Big West Conference match hosted by Cal State Northridge started with a No. 1 doubles win by Blalock and Wong against Matadors Victoria Brymer and Kristy Fournell 8-5. The doubles point was lost after Brady and Markhoff lost to Kanykey Koichumanova and Brooke Doane 8-4. Filip and Malec succumbed to Sandra Kukla and Nina Jaworowski 8-4.
“(At Northridge) we started slowly in doubles,” Bream said. “It was a situation where if we had come out stronger, we would have had the point. Obviously winning the doubles point gave (the Matadors) good motivation.
“They were in front of a good, lively home crowd. So I think it was a good learning experience for us; coming off a tough victory, make sure the next day we come off to a good start, gain momentum early and quiet their crowd down.”
The Mustangs (4-6, 1-2 Big West Conference) host UC Riverside at 10 a.m. March 1 before then facing San Jose State at 2 p.m.
The break is welcome after an eight-match streak of away games.
“I know the girls are really excited to play at home during this next stretch,” Bream added. “It’s a chance for us to build momentum through the middle part of our season and go into the end of our season playing the best tennis of the year.”
Though Blalock and Wong were demoted from 22nd, Blalock received Big West Tennis co-Athlete of the Week honors. She shares the honor with Long Beach State’s Hannah Grady after a notable week against conference opponents UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton.
“It’s a great honor and typical of her,” Bream said. “She’s capable of playing at a high level consistently. As a sophomore starting her second year, her potential to improve is phenomenal.”