No. 72 Mustangs Blank UC Riverside to Earn Eighth Straight Win

Friday, April 8

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

11 A.M.

UC Riverside

No. 72 Mustangs Blank UC Riverside to Earn Eighth Straight Win

4/8/2022 2:53:00 PM | Women's Tennis

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — For the sixth time in its last seven matches, the Cal Poly women's tennis team served up a shutout, beating UC Riverside 7-0 Friday at Mustang Tennis Complex to extend its winning streak to eight matches and remain atop the Big West standings. The win for the No. 72 Mustangs (13-4, 6-0 BWC) keeps them undefeated in the Big West at 6-0 so far. They are also unbeaten at home this season at 9-0, seven of which have been shutouts. Just as they have done this entire win streak, the Mustangs secured the doubles point to kick off the match. The No. 3 duo of freshman Peyton Dunkle and grad student Laura Bente started things off with a dominant 6-0 victory to stay undefeated together at 7-0 this season. Then at the No. 1 spot, redshirt juniors Emily Ackerman and Kim Bhunu clinched the point after winning their match 6-2. They have now won eight in a row and are a team-best 12-4. In singles, Cal Poly had impressive showings from all of its players as all six wins were in straight sets. Redshirt sophomore Delanie Dunkle made quick work at the No. 5 spot by not dropping a game, winning it 6-0, 6-0 to stretch her win streak to seven in a row. Not to be outdone, Bente finished right behind her after also shutting out her opponent at the No. 2 spot in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. She has now won her last four matches. Peyton Dunkle officially clinched the dual for the Mustangs after she won her seventh straight match at the No. 6 spot, 6-0, 6-1. She now has a team-best record of 11-2 in her rookie campaign. At the No. 3 spot, redshirt sophomore Melissa LaMette, this week's Big West Women's Tennis Player of the Week, kept her winning ways going after a 6-4, 6-0 victory. She's won five consecutive matches and is 11-5 overall, including a 5-0 record against Big West opponents. Bhunu was victorious at the No. 1 spot, 6-3, 6-3 to improve her record to 10-6 and 4-0 in Big West matches. The 7-0 sweep was completed after Ackerman won her match at the No. 4 spot, 6-4, 6-4 to improve to 7-9 this season. Cal Poly will now get ready for a road non-conference match on Sunday against No. 18 USC at 3 p.m. before getting set to play the final three Big West matches of the regular season after that.