Cal Poly Women’s Tennis Earns Comeback Victory Over Loyola Marymount
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Cal Poly women’s tennis team secured a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind victory against No. 50 Loyola Marymount on Saturday, February 21, 2026, marking their first win over a ranked opponent in nearly a year.
After dropping the doubles point to begin the dual match, the Mustangs (3-3) rallied, winning four of the six singles matches to overcome the Lions (5-4). The win was particularly significant as it represented Cal Poly’s first victory against a ranked team since defeating No. 70 Hawai’i on March 26, 2025, and the highest-ranked opponent they’ve bested since a 4-3 road win over No. 49 Sacramento State on February 28, 2025.
The decisive point came from senior Alexandra Ozerets at the No. 4 singles position. The match had been leveled at 3-3, and all eyes turned to Ozerets’ court. She started strong, winning the first set 6-1, but faced a resilient opponent in Helene Schnack, who battled back to take the second set 7-5. The third set proved to be a back-and-forth affair, ultimately culminating in a 7-5 victory for Ozerets, clinching the dual match for the Mustangs.
Ozerets’ win improved her singles record to 4-2 on the season. The comeback was ignited by a series of strong performances from her teammates.
Loyola Marymount initially took a 2-0 lead after winning at No. 6 singles. However, junior Natalie Lynch quickly responded with a straight-sets victory at No. 5, improving her singles record to 4-2. Sophomore Jessica MacCallum then secured a win at No. 2, taking the match 6-0, 7-5, to tie the score at 2-2.
Junior Candela Aparisi continued the momentum, winning a tightly contested match at No. 3 in straight sets (7-6 (8-6), 7-5), giving Cal Poly a 3-2 advantage. However, the Lions refused to concede, with a win at No. 1 singles by Lidia Gonzalez forcing a decisive showdown at No. 4.
The victory comes after a nearly two-week hiatus for the Cal Poly women’s tennis team. They will continue their road trip on Sunday, February 22, 2026, with a match against Big West Conference opponent CSUN at 11 a.m.
