LOS ANGELES — Despite winning the doubles point and four of the six singles matches going three sets, the Cal Poly women’s tennis team fell in a close match to Denver Saturday 4-2 in the consolation match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament in Los Angeles.
The Mustangs (1-2) No. 1 doubles duo of redshirt juniors Emily Ackerman and Kim Bhunu started the match off by winning their match 6-2. After the Pioneers (1-1) No. 3 duo won their match, Cal Poly’s No. 2 pairing of redshirt sophomore Delanie Dunkle and Melissa LaMette clinched the doubles point after a 6-3 win to improve to 2-1 together this season.
In singles, Denver started by picking up a 7-5, 6-3 win at the No. 6 spot over sophomore Shreya Ravilla to tie the dual 1-1.
The Pioneers then got a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win at the No. 1 spot over Bhunu to take a 2-1 lead. Their third point came at the No. 5 spot 7-6(3), 7-6(5) over freshman Peyton Dunkle.
Cal Poly cut the Denver lead to 3-2 after Ackerman won her match at the No. 2 spot over Taylor Melville in comeback fashion 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5.
Denver then clinched the dual after a 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 win at the No. 3 spot over Melissa LaMette.
The Mustangs will now get ready for their first home match of the season when they host Sacramento State next Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. following the Mustang men’s tennis team’s match against Pacific.
Photo courtesy of UCLA Athletics