Colorado tennis goes 2-1 over busy weekend in Minneapolis
- Colby Wyatt
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Colorado Buffaloes were shut out by Alabama last Friday before taking down an undefeated Minnesota team and St. Thomas in a doubleheader on Sunday.
For the first time this season, CU lost the doubles point against the Crimson Tide. Freshman Yukiko Ikedo saw her first action of the season, partnering up with Lani Brotman, where they were beaten 6-1. The No. 1 duo, Aya El Sayed and Pia Rebec, suffered the same fate, losing 6-1.
Singles play was just as rough for the Buffs. El Sayed lost to No. 45-ranked Kristina Paskaauakas, 6-2, 6-2. Shortly after, No. 2 Rixt van der Werff fell 6-4, 6-1. The nail in the coffin was Rebec losing the No. 3 match 6-4, 6-2.
With the match clinched for Alabama, the rest of the duel came to a stop. But up to that point, No. 4 Brotman (3-6, 6-6 (2-3)), No. 5 Lera Alexin (7-6 (6), 2-3) and No. 6 Anya Nelson (6-4, 0-5) were all holding their own.Â
Unranked Alabama was Colorado’s toughest competition yet, as the win moved them to 7-0 while the Buffs dropped to 3-2.
It didn’t take long for the team to bounce back, as the Buffs handed the Gophers their first loss of the season. No. 2 doubles pair van der Werff and Alexin sailed to a 6-1 win, while El Sayed and Rebec captured the doubles point for CU with their 6-4 win.
Minnesota’s No. 2 player, Jeselle Ante, tied things up with her 6-2, 6-3 win, but that was CU’s only loss of the duel. Despite being down a set, El Sayed got things back on track with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 117-ranked Aiva Schmitz.
No. 3 Rebec had a battle on her hands but won in two sets, 7-5, 6-4. Alexin ended the duel from the No. 5 slot with a back-and-forth 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win.
Later that day against St. Thomas, Heidi Crncan and Willow Gretsh saw some action, quickly getting the No. 3 doubles win 6-1. Brotman and Nelson were bumped up to No. 2, where they won shortly after 6-2.
El Sayed was the only Buff to lose against St. Thomas with her 7-5, 6-1 defeat at the top spot. It was all green lights from there as van der Werff (6-1, 7-5), No. 4 Alexin (6-2, 6-4) and No. 5 Crncan (6-0, 6-0) all won in straight sets to seal a 4-1 win over the Tommies.
After the weekend, the Buffaloes sit with a 5-2 record. They have the week to prepare before traveling to Las Vegas for another three-match weekend.