In a thrilling encounter at the Barnes Tennis Center, the Cal Poly men's tennis team gave their all but ultimately succumbed to UC San Diego with a score of 4-2. This match was part of the quarterfinals in the Big West Championships. Despite a commendable doubles performance that saw them secure an early advantage, the Mustangs couldn't maintain the momentum in singles play against a determined Tritons squad.

The dual commenced with promise for the fifth-seeded Mustangs as they triumphed in the doubles segment. Notably, John Cross and Sean Kamyshev contributed significantly by overcoming their rivals at No. 2 with a decisive 6-3 victory. Their partnership has been fruitful this season, enhancing their record to 6-2. Furthermore, Aaron Eliscu and Wian Roothman displayed resilience at No. 3, turning a deficit into a hard-fought 7-5 win.

Transitioning to singles, UC San Diego swiftly equalized after securing a straight sets win at No. 1. Jack McGary, a freshman, encountered difficulties at No. 5, losing a close first-set tiebreaker and subsequently his match, which handed the Tritons a slight edge. The remaining singles matches were fiercely contested, each extending to a third set. Cross managed to force a decider at No. 4 but eventually lost, allowing UCSD to gain a commanding lead.

Aaron Eliscu provided a glimmer of hope with a vital win at No. 6, concluding his day undefeated in both singles and doubles with a scoreline of 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. However, the pressure mounted on Cal Poly as they required victories in the final two matches to progress. Unfortunately, Bastiaan Weststrate fell in a dramatic third set at No. 2, sealing UCSD's triumph and eliminating the Mustangs from the tournament.

This setback marks the conclusion of Cal Poly's season. Nevertheless, the future appears promising for the Mustangs, who only lose one player, Weststrate, from this year's roster. With a blend of seasoned veterans and burgeoning talent, the team is poised for continued growth and success in upcoming seasons.