The Cal Poly Invitational will take place this weekend, marking the only home event for the women’s tennis team this fall.
The competition will be tough, as Cal Poly will play against UC Santa Barbara and Northridge in the tournament. All three Big West Conference teams were in the national rankings last year.
The fall tennis season is comprised of individual singles and individual doubles matches.
Cal Poly head coach Hugh Bream and his players are excited with the chance to play on their own court.
“It’s a lot of fun for the team to play at home in front of friends and family,” Bream said. “There are going to be some very competitive matches.”
Cal Poly senior Carol Erickson will be the No. 1 seed in the dual match. Erickson, who is 15-4 this fall, is the only senior on a young Mustangs squad that features two sophomores and five freshmen.
“I think it has been good to have a young team,” said Cal Poly sophomore Shannon Brady, who is one of the three players returning from last year’s team. “We have mature freshmen who are motivated and hardworking. We look forward to showing that this weekend.”
The No. 2 seed is Cal Poly freshman Brittany Blalock (9-1), who won the Fullerton Invitational last month.
The No. 3 seed, UC Santa Barbara’s Carnia Bjornstromand, a native of Finland, has beaten some of the best junior players in the world. She once had a world ranking of No. 812.
Northridge’s Kanykey Koichumanova will be seeded fourth.
For doubles, Cal Poly’s Erickson and Steffi Yong will hold the No. 1 seed.
The Cal Poly Invitational starts Friday with doubles, followed by singles Saturday. The finals for both will take place Sunday.