HONOLULU, O'ahu – The University of Hawai'i women's tennis team faced stiff competition against undefeated Cal Poly Saturday afternoon at the UH Tennis Complex and dropped their first Big West Conference match of the season.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (4-3, 3-1 BWC) experienced adversity throughout the match, surrendering two doubles match-ups and all but one singles competition to the Mustangs, who improved to 9-0 and 4-0 in the Big West. 
 
In doubles play, UH's No. 2 duo Petra Melounova and Lea Romain were overwhelmed by Cal Poly's Delanie Dunkle and Melissa LaMette, 6-2. Likewise, the doubles point was decided when UH's No. 1 duo of Satsuki Takamura and Nikola Dolokova dropped their match by the identical score to Emily Ackerman and Kim Bhunu, 6-2.
 
In singles, the Mustangs' tough lineup proved too much for the Rainbow Wahine, who managed only to capture the No. 2 court where Dolokova defeated Bhunu in straight sets, 7-3, 6-3.


The Nos. 5 and 1 courts were the first to finish as UH's No. 5 player Madison Kim and No. 1 Melounova were knocked off in two straight sets each by Emily Ackerman and Stone, respectively. Cal Poly secured the dual at the No. 6 court, where Grace Olyphant defeated Merrill 6-3, 6-4.
 
Nonetheless, although the match was guaranteed for Cal Poly the Rainbow Wahine fought hard until the end with Romain and Takamura taking their respective matches to a third sets. Romain lost to Dunkle by a margin of two points in their super-tiebreaker, 13-11. Takamura was the last to finish, winning the first set before dropping the next two to LaMette, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will look to bounce back with a non-conference match against Portland State, Thursday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m., followed by their home finale against UC Santa Barbara, Saturday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m.
 
Cal Poly 6, Hawai'i 1
March 27, 2021
Honolulu, O'ahu (UH Tennis Complex)
 
Doubles
1. Emily Ackerman/Kim Bhunu (CP) def. Satsuki Takamura/Nikola Dolakova (UH) 6-2
2. Delanie Dunkle/Melissa LaMette (CP) def. Petra Melounova/Lea Romain (UH) 6-2
3. Mackenzie Worsnop/Dominique Stone (CP) vs. Rebecca Ehn/Alexis Merrill (UH) no result
Order of finish: (2, 1)

Singles
1. Dominique Stone (CP) def. Petra Melounova (UH) 6-2, 6-4
2. Nikola Dolakova (UH) def. Kim Bhunu (CP) 7-5, 6-3
3. Melissa LaMette (CP) def. Satsuki Takamura (UH) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Delanie Dunkle (CP) def. Lea Romain (UH) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 13-11
5. Emily Ackerman (CP) def. Madison Kim (UH) 6-1, 6-2
6. Grace Olyphant (CP) def. Alexis Merrill (UH) 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: (5,1,6*,2,4,3)