LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego wrapped up a string of seven consecutive home matches Friday, falling to visiting Cal Poly by a 6-1 score in a Big West match at Northview Tennis Courts. The loss snapped a three-match win streak for the Tritons.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Cal Poly 6, UC San Diego 1
Records: Cal Poly 7-6, 2-1 Big West; UCSD 5-11, 1-4 Big West
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons again shuffled their lineup due to injuries, and Cal Poly came out strong to take the doubles point with wins on courts one and two.
 
In singles play, captain Sophie Pearson continued her winning ways. The grad student moved up to the third position for the third time this season, earning a 6-3, 6-2 win over Cal Poly's Kennedy Buntrock. Pearson's win briefly tied the match score at 1-1. However, the Mustangs took control and swept the other five singles contests to earn the road win.
 
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
UC San Diego vs. Cal Poly
March 15, 2024 at La Jolla, Calif.
(Northview Tennis Courts)
 
Cal Poly 6, UC San Diego 1
 
Singles competition
1. Delanie Dunkle (CP) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-2, 6-4
2. Peyton Dunkle (CP) def. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 7-6 (2), 2-6
3. Sophie Pearson (UCSD) def. Kennedy Buntrock (CP), 6-3, 6-2
4. Alexandra Ozerets (CP) def. Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 7-5, 6-4
5. Romane Mosse (CP) def. Polina Jorniak (UCSD), 3-6, 7-5, 10-4
6. Eliza Bates (CP) def. Naomi Nguyen (UCSD), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Delanie Dunkle/Peyton Dunkle (CP) def. Naomi Nguyen/Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 6-1
2. Kennedy Buntrock/Eliza Bates (CP) def. Sophie Pearson/Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-3
3. Romane Mosse/Sarah MacCallum (CP) vs. Cincy Chen/Kelly Leung (UCSD), 4-3, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,1,2,4,5,6)
 
QUOTABLE
"This was a tough one against a well-coached team. There were several chances on our side that we unfortunately were unable to convert on," said UC San Diego head coach Sebastian Bader. "We are close and will bounce back after some time on the practice court."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Sophie Pearson's win at No. 3 was her team-leading sixth singles victory this season.
• Juniors Katelyn Vu and Naomi Nguyen paired together in doubles for just the second time since they were freshmen. That season, the duo posted an 8-4 record.
• The Mustangs remained unbeaten – now 4-0 – against UC San Diego since the Tritons joined The Big West prior to the 2020-21 season.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will pause for final exams and return to action on March 26 at San José State – the first of three matches the Tritons will play in Northern California to close the month.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Divisions I and II.