Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Mustangs Blank UC Riverside Saturday To Earn Ninth Straight Win
4/18/2021 3:28:00 PM | Men's Tennis
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After clinching the Big West regular season title Saturday, the Cal Poly men's tennis team finished out the regular season Sunday at Mustang Tennis Complex by blanking UC Riverside 4-0 to finish with an undefeated conference record and earn their ninth consecutive win.
For the Mustangs (13-7, 6-0 BWC), who have not lost since March 7, it is the first time that they have finished Big West play with an undefeated record since 2012. They also finish the season with a perfect 7-0 record at home.
Against the Highlanders (1-10, 0-4 BW) Sunday, Cal Poly started the match by winning the doubles point. The No. 1 pairing of redshirt junior Roman Shenkiryk and redshirt freshman Joe Leather first won their match over Gilbert Chung and Nolan McCaig 6-2.
The No. 3 duo of redshirt junior Alex Stater and redshirt sophomore Gary Vardanyan then clinched the doubles point for Cal Poly after winning their match 6-4 over Jayson Blando and Michael Blando. Stater and Vardanyan finish the regular season with a team-best 9-2 record together.
In singles, Vardanyan quickly gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead after making quick work of Michael Blando at the No. 6 spot 6-0, 6-0. Vardanyan ends the regular season with a 10-6 record and having won his last four matches.
A short time later, redshirt freshman Fernando Fonseca won his match at the No. 5 spot over Bingru Chen 6-1, 6-1. Fonseca finishes the regular season with a 12-7 record, tied for the most wins on the team, and having also won his last four matches.
Leather then clinched the victory for Cal Poly after winning his match at the No. 4 spot in straight sets 7-5, 6-0 over Jayson Blando. Leather wraps the regular season with an 11-7 record.
Cal Poly will now prepare for the Big West Conference Tournament, which they will head into as the No. 1 seed. It will take place April 30-May 2 at Irvine Great Park in Irvine, Calif. As the No. 1 seed, they have automatically earned themselves a spot in the semifinals and will play their first match on Saturday, May 1 at 12 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Owen Main/Fansmanship.com
For the Mustangs (13-7, 6-0 BWC), who have not lost since March 7, it is the first time that they have finished Big West play with an undefeated record since 2012. They also finish the season with a perfect 7-0 record at home.
Against the Highlanders (1-10, 0-4 BW) Sunday, Cal Poly started the match by winning the doubles point. The No. 1 pairing of redshirt junior Roman Shenkiryk and redshirt freshman Joe Leather first won their match over Gilbert Chung and Nolan McCaig 6-2.
The No. 3 duo of redshirt junior Alex Stater and redshirt sophomore Gary Vardanyan then clinched the doubles point for Cal Poly after winning their match 6-4 over Jayson Blando and Michael Blando. Stater and Vardanyan finish the regular season with a team-best 9-2 record together.
In singles, Vardanyan quickly gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead after making quick work of Michael Blando at the No. 6 spot 6-0, 6-0. Vardanyan ends the regular season with a 10-6 record and having won his last four matches.
A short time later, redshirt freshman Fernando Fonseca won his match at the No. 5 spot over Bingru Chen 6-1, 6-1. Fonseca finishes the regular season with a 12-7 record, tied for the most wins on the team, and having also won his last four matches.
Leather then clinched the victory for Cal Poly after winning his match at the No. 4 spot in straight sets 7-5, 6-0 over Jayson Blando. Leather wraps the regular season with an 11-7 record.
Cal Poly will now prepare for the Big West Conference Tournament, which they will head into as the No. 1 seed. It will take place April 30-May 2 at Irvine Great Park in Irvine, Calif. As the No. 1 seed, they have automatically earned themselves a spot in the semifinals and will play their first match on Saturday, May 1 at 12 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Owen Main/Fansmanship.com
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