In a nail-biting finish, the Cal Poly women’s tennis team clinched the Big West Championship with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Cal State Fullerton. The match came down to the wire, with graduate student Melissa LaMette delivering a stunning comeback in the No. 5 singles match to secure the win for the Mustangs.
After dropping the first set and falling behind 5-2 in the second, LaMette rallied to claim a dramatic 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 victory, propelling Cal Poly to their second Big West Championship in program history and their first since 2003. The win also earned them a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in school history and the first time since 2011.
The victory was a sweet redemption for the Mustangs, who avenged a regular-season loss to Cal State Fullerton with their gritty performance in the championship match. The team started strong, securing the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2, thanks to the dominant performances of Delanie Dunkle and Peyton Dunkle.
In singles play, the Titans fought back to even the match at 3-3, setting the stage for LaMette’s heroics. Her match-clinching point not only secured the championship for Cal Poly but also solidified her place in Division I program history with 48 career dual singles victories.
The Mustangs will now eagerly await the NCAA Tournament selection show to find out their first-round opponent. The selection show will air on NCAA.com on Monday at 3:30 p.m., as the team prepares to continue their impressive run in the postseason.