Ryan ChartrandThe Cal Poly women’s tennis team controlled Mustang Courts on Saturday in a doubleheader, blasting UC Riverside 7-0 and then San Jose State 6-1.
“We came out strong and dominated,” said Cal Poly sophomore Brittany Blalock.
In No. 1 doubles against UC Riverside, Blalock and fellow sophomore Steffi Wong (21-15), ranked 36th in the country, defeated Erynne Oki and Angelique Corpuz 8-3.
Partners Maria Malec and Shannon Brady, as well as Diane Filip and Amy Markhoff, each won their matches 8-6.
In singles, four of the six matches went to three sets, but Blalock made quick work of Oki 6-3, 6-4. Wong topped H.R. Espiritu 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
Against the Spartans, Cal Poly’s No. 1 doubles duo of Filip and Markhoff vanquished Amber Silverstone and Ashley Tavita 8-3. In the No. 2 slot, Brady and Malec defeated Silvana Dukic and Dana Popesam 8-4.
Afterward, Whitney Peterson and Brooke Pletcher, who played together for the very first time this season, won 8-1.
Every singles match finished in two sets. Wong fell to Ashley Tavita 6-1, 6-2 in the only Cal Poly (6-6, 2-2 Big West Conference) loss.
By breezing by Silverstone 6-1, 6-4, Blalock improved her record to 4-6 and 3-1 in Big West play.
“The girls looked fresh and strong,” said Mustangs head coach Hugh Bream. “It was nice to be back at the home courts and have great crowds.”
Cal Poly hosts its next five contests.
Before the next one, at 11 a.m. Sunday against Pacific, the Mustangs will be conditioning, getting more fit, lifting weights and extensively doing strength drills, Blalock said.
Bream stressed the importance of Cal Poly, ranked 74th as of Feb. 26, needing to build momentum for the Big West Tournament, held April 25-27 at Indian Wells.
“We’d like to crack that top 50 (in the national rankings),” he added.