Mustangs Defeat Hawai’i to Advance to Big West Tournament Championship Match

Friday, April 29

San Diego, CA

12 P.M.

Hawai'i

Photo by: Big West Conference

Mustangs Defeat Hawai’i to Advance to Big West Tournament Championship Match

4/29/2022 5:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

SAN DIEGO – The Cal Poly women's tennis team took down Hawai'i 4-2 in the semifinals of the Big West Tournament Friday in San Diego to advance to Saturday's championship match for the second straight year. The No. 2 seeded Mustangs (17-6) took the doubles point over the Rainbow Wahine, the No. 3 seed, to start off the match. The No. 2 pairing of redshirt sophomores Delanie Dunkle and Melissa LaMette got the first win 6-2 before the No. 1 duo of redshirt juniors Emily Ackerman and Kim Bhunu clinched the point after winning their match 6-4. In singles, Hawai'i tied the match after getting a win at the No. 1 spot. Cal Poly grad transfer Laura Bente regained the lead for the Mustangs after winning at the No. 2 spot, 6-3, 6-2. The Rainbow Wahine tied it up 2-2 after winning at the No. 5 spot before Ackerman gave Cal Poly a 3-2 after picking up a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 win at the No. 3 spot. Freshman Peyton Dunkle (pictured) then clinched the dual after pulling out a straight sets win at the No. 6 spot, 6-2, 7-6. Cal Poly will now face No. 1 seed UCSB Saturday at noon in a rematch of last year's championship match in which the Gauchos were victorious. UCSB beat Cal Poly last week to win the Big West regular season title. The Mustangs are seeking their first Big West Tournament title since 2003.