Saturday, March 9
Northridge, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4
vs
3
Cal Poly
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Wins Thriller Over Cal Poly, 4-3
3/9/2024 7:44:00 PM | Women's Tennis
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Tennis rallied to defeat Cal Poly 4-3 in a Big West match on Saturday at Matador Tennis Complex. The Matadors bounced back from losing the doubles point and the first two singles to win a trio of three-set singles contests to pull out the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be a battle throughout the day in every matchup beginning with a tightly-contested doubles point. At No. 2, Mustangs' Melissa LaMette and Romane Mosse picked up a 6-4 victory over Victoria Santibañez Luna and Cindy Ung to begin doubles action. CSUN would even up the doubles play with a 6-3 victory from Angela Ho and Elena Goodman over Kennedy Buntrock and Eliza Bates at No. 3. The third doubles match would be even throughout, but the tandem of Delanie Dunkle and Peyton Dunkle edged Sasha Turchak and Yuliia Zhytelna 7-5 at No. 1 to clinch the doubles point.
Mosse opened singles play with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Nicole West at No. 6 then Delanie Dunkle earned another win for Cal Poly at No. 1, knocking off Turchak 6-4, 6-3.
Needing four wins over its final four singles matches, CSUN picked up its first point when Zhytelna rallied from a set one loss to defeat Peyton Dunkle 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2. Santibañez Luna would also have to bounce back from a set one loss in her singles match as she downed LeMette 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 at No. 3. CSUN collected another tight three-set win at No. 5 when Ho outlasted Alexandra Ozerets 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
The match would come down to the No. 4 matchup with Emma Moratalla Sanz taking on Kennedy Buntrock. Each set would go the distance with Moratalla Sanz pulling out two thrilling wins 7-6, 7-6 to claim the match for CSUN.
ACCORDING TO COACH GARY VICTOR
"I'm so proud of them. The difference between 3-4 and 4-3 is so minuscule that you can't be upset if you don't win. I'm extremely proud of them. Getting that fourth point is such a privilege in the Big West. It's a very tough tennis conference.
"What a moment for Vika (Santibañez Luna) -- she overcame and set the tone for all of our comebacks. We have some very tough young ladies and we needed every ounce of it against a very good Cal Poly team."
POST MATCH COMMENTS
"I'm really happy with how we competed," said Santibañez Luna. "Today, we showed that tennis is a team sport. Despite being down 0-3, the effort was there at all times and we were not going to go down without a fight and it showed results. Shoutout to the coaches because we wouldn't be here without them. We fight for every point for them and for each other."
"One of the toughest matches for me," said Zhytelna. "Coming back after losing really badly is really hard mentally, but I did it today. I'm so proud of everyone. The team was amazing. Vika and Emma held me on such a hype today. More ahead!"
"Today, I felt really good after a solid doubles match, even though our team lost the doubles point, it was extremely close and it fired me up to play even better in singles," said Ho. "I had a great first set, but my legs felt extremely fatigued after losing the second and I focused on spending my energy on the right point. Hearing all my teammates support really kept me going and I knew that every point mattered so I battled until the very end. The support and love on this team is something that is very special to me and I'm excited for more matches to come."
#GoMatadors
HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be a battle throughout the day in every matchup beginning with a tightly-contested doubles point. At No. 2, Mustangs' Melissa LaMette and Romane Mosse picked up a 6-4 victory over Victoria Santibañez Luna and Cindy Ung to begin doubles action. CSUN would even up the doubles play with a 6-3 victory from Angela Ho and Elena Goodman over Kennedy Buntrock and Eliza Bates at No. 3. The third doubles match would be even throughout, but the tandem of Delanie Dunkle and Peyton Dunkle edged Sasha Turchak and Yuliia Zhytelna 7-5 at No. 1 to clinch the doubles point.
Mosse opened singles play with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Nicole West at No. 6 then Delanie Dunkle earned another win for Cal Poly at No. 1, knocking off Turchak 6-4, 6-3.
Needing four wins over its final four singles matches, CSUN picked up its first point when Zhytelna rallied from a set one loss to defeat Peyton Dunkle 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2. Santibañez Luna would also have to bounce back from a set one loss in her singles match as she downed LeMette 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 at No. 3. CSUN collected another tight three-set win at No. 5 when Ho outlasted Alexandra Ozerets 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
The match would come down to the No. 4 matchup with Emma Moratalla Sanz taking on Kennedy Buntrock. Each set would go the distance with Moratalla Sanz pulling out two thrilling wins 7-6, 7-6 to claim the match for CSUN.
ACCORDING TO COACH GARY VICTOR
"I'm so proud of them. The difference between 3-4 and 4-3 is so minuscule that you can't be upset if you don't win. I'm extremely proud of them. Getting that fourth point is such a privilege in the Big West. It's a very tough tennis conference.
"What a moment for Vika (Santibañez Luna) -- she overcame and set the tone for all of our comebacks. We have some very tough young ladies and we needed every ounce of it against a very good Cal Poly team."
POST MATCH COMMENTS
"I'm really happy with how we competed," said Santibañez Luna. "Today, we showed that tennis is a team sport. Despite being down 0-3, the effort was there at all times and we were not going to go down without a fight and it showed results. Shoutout to the coaches because we wouldn't be here without them. We fight for every point for them and for each other."
"One of the toughest matches for me," said Zhytelna. "Coming back after losing really badly is really hard mentally, but I did it today. I'm so proud of everyone. The team was amazing. Vika and Emma held me on such a hype today. More ahead!"
"Today, I felt really good after a solid doubles match, even though our team lost the doubles point, it was extremely close and it fired me up to play even better in singles," said Ho. "I had a great first set, but my legs felt extremely fatigued after losing the second and I focused on spending my energy on the right point. Hearing all my teammates support really kept me going and I knew that every point mattered so I battled until the very end. The support and love on this team is something that is very special to me and I'm excited for more matches to come."
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
12
Delanie Dunkle / 0 [CP]
66
43
#2 Singles Match
123
Peyton Dunkle / 0 [CP]
634
166
#3 Singles Match
123
Melissa LaMette / 0 [CP]
604
266
#4 Singles Match
12
Kennedy Buntrock / 0 [CP]
66
77
#5 Singles Match
123
Alexandra Ozerets / 0 [CP]
362
616
#6 Singles Match
12
Romane Mosse / 0 [CP]
66
13
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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