Mustangs Suffer First Conference Defeat of Season at UC Irvine

Sunday, April 12

Irvine, CA / Anteater Tennis Stadium

1 P.M.

UC Irvine

Candela Aparisi, Long Beach State, 033126

Photo by: Joe Kelly

Mustangs Suffer First Conference Defeat of Season at UC Irvine

4/12/2026 7:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. — Junior Candela Aparisi picked up her fifth straight singles victory, but the Cal Poly women’s tennis team suffered its Big West defeat of the season, falling 4-3 in hard-fought battle at UC Irvine on Sunday.

The dual, which started two hours later than originally scheduled due to weather, started with singles play.

After the Mustangs fell at No. 1, sophomore Jessica MacCallum was able to level the dual at 1-1 with a dominant straight-sets victory at No. 2, 6-2, 6-3. She improved to 9-5 at the No. 2 spot this season and 5-2 in conference matches.

Cal Poly lost in straight sets at both No. 5 and No. 6, allowing the Anteaters (12-7, 3-4 Big West) to take a 3-1 lead. But the Mustangs rebounded with some thrilling three-set victories at No. 3 and No. 4.

At No. 3, Aparisi earned a 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-4 win to improve to 11-7 this season and 5-1 in Big West play. Then Alexandra Ozerets secured a pivotal come from behind victory at No. 4 to level the dual at 3-3. After dropping the first set 3-6, she won the second and third sets 6-2. It was her 55th career singles victory — adding to her school record — and she moved to 11-8 this season and 5-2 in conference matches.

With the dual knotted up at 3-3, it all came down to the doubles point. At No. 2, junior Natalie Lynch and Aparisi were able to grab a commanding 6-1 win, improving to a team-best 10-5 this season and 4-0 in Big West play. But the Mustangs lost at both No. 1 and No. 3, allowing UCI to earn the 4-3 win.

With two matches remaining in the season, Cal Poly (11-8, 6-1 BW) now sits in second place in the conference standings. Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara is currently in first place with a 7-0 Big West record.

The Mustangs return home to host UC Riverside at noon Wednesday before taking on UCSB at the Ronca Tennis Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday to wrap up regular season play.