Mustangs Take Down Cal State Fullerton to Stay Atop Big West

Saturday, April 16

Fullerton, CA

11 A.M.

Cal State Fullerton

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Mustangs Take Down Cal State Fullerton to Stay Atop Big West

4/16/2022 8:11:00 PM | Women's Tennis

FULLERTON, Calif. — The Cal Poly women's tennis team passed a tough test Saturday, beating No. 64 Cal State Fullerton 4-2 on the road to remain undefeated at 8-0 in conference play and ensure it controls its own destiny to win a Big West regular season title. The win for the No. 70 Mustangs (15-5, 8-0 BWC) is their 15th overall on the season, already their most in a season since 2011, when that team won 16 matches. Saturday against the No. 64 Titans (14-6, 4-3 BWC), Cal Poly took the doubles point to kick off the match. The No. 2 pairing of redshirt sophomores Delanie Dunkle and Melissa LaMette won their match 6-2 before the No. 3 duo of grad transfer Laura Bente and freshman Peyton Dunkle clinched the point after winning their match 6-4. LaMette and Delanie Dunkle have won four straight and are now 10-3. Bente and Peyton Dunkle continue to play well together and are now 9-1 this season. In singles, Peyton Dunkle gave Cal Poly a 2-0 lead after winning at the No. 6 spot, 6-4, 6-0. She now has a team-best record of 13-3. Delanie Dunkle put the Mustangs up 3-0 after she won her match at the No. 5 spot, 6-3, 6-3. Playing her best tennis of the season, she has won 10 straight matches and is 12-6 this year. Cal State Fullerton then won consecutive matches at the No. 3 and 4 spots to cut the Cal Poly lead to 3-2 before redshirt junior Kim Bhunu pulled out a three-set win at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3 to clinch the dual for the Mustangs. Bhunu is now 12-7 on the year. With just one regular season match remaining on its schedule, Cal Poly is currently tied for first in the Big West standings with UCSB who is 7-0. The Gauchos will face Cal State Fullerton Sunday and if the Gauchos win, it will set up a match on Saturday, April 23 between the Mustangs and Gauchos at Mustang Tennis Complex that will be for the Big West regular season crown. Cal Poly is seeking its first Big West regular season title since 2011 when it was co-champions with Long Beach State.