SAN LUIS OBISPO – Despite the upset loss of its top-ranked doubles pairing, the No. 71 Cal Poly women’s tennis team captured the doubles point for the 11th time in 12 spring duals as the Mustangs stayed perfect at home during the 2010 campaign with a 6-1 defeat of Big Ten Conference opponent Michigan State on Tuesday afternoon.

The senior pairing of Suzie Matzenauer and Brittany Blalock opened Cal Poly’s day with an 8-2 victory against Michigan State’s Michaela Silesova and Elena Ivanova. At No. 2, the 59th-ranked tandem of senior Steffi Wong and freshman Alexa Lee fell for the first time in 12 spring outings, dropping an 8-6 decision against Amy Barton and Whitney Wilson. Cal Poly, however, regroup to earn the doubles point as, at No. 3, junior Ashley Pane and sophomore Jocelyn Davis teamed to defeat Nicole Herzog and Christine Milliken, 8-6.

“Winning the doubles point was huge for us. Michigan State had won 10 of 11 doubles points coming into the match so I thought our victory was a big momentum shift for us,” said Cal Poly head coach Hugh Bream, whose Mustangs improved to 10-2.

In singles action, Blalock (above) swept aside Silesova at No. 1, 6-1, 6-3, before Matzenauer regrouped to down Herzog at No. 2, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0. Michigan State’s Wilson upended Wong at No. 3, 2-6, 6-2 (10-6), before the Mustangs finished the day by capturing the final three singles points. At No. 4, Filip edged Barton, 6-2, 6-3, before Lee prevailed at No. 5 versus Ivanova, 6-2, 6-2. Davis capped Cal Poly’s triumph at No. 6 with a 6-0, 6-1 smashing of Milliken.

“I was really pleased with our play in conditions that were fairly windy,” added Bream, whose Cal Poly side improved to 5-0 on Mustang Courts this year. “Our players competed solidly and put pressure on Michigan State to do something special in today’s conditions.”

Cal Poly completes its six-match homestand on Friday, Feb. 19 against Utah State at 2 p.m. and on Saturday, March 20 against No. 37 Dartmouth at 10 a.m.
 

Doubles
1. Blalock/Matzenauer (CP) def. Silesova/Ivanova (MSU), 8-2
2. Wilson/Barton (MSU) def. No. 59 Wong/Lee (CP), 8-6
3. Pane/Filip (CP) def. Herzog/Milliken (MSU), 8-6

Singles
1. Brittany Blalock (CP) def. Michaela Silesova (MSU), 6-1, 6-3
2. No. 93 Suzie Matzenauer (CP) def. Nicole Herzog (MSU), 6-0, 4-6, 6-0
3. Whitney Wilson (MSU) def. Steffi Wong (CP), 2-6, 6-2 (10-6)
4. Diane Filip (CP) def. Amy Barton (MSU), 6-2, 6-3
5. Alexa Lee (CP) def. Elena Ivanova (MSU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Jocelyn Davis (CP) def. Christine Milliken (MSU), 6-0, 6-1