BOULDER & COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado Buffaloes tennis team opened its spring season against two in-state foes this weekend, beginning with the Air Force Falcons on Friday.
Air Force came out swinging and won the opening doubles match in dominant fashion. The Falcons then got a quick singles triumph due to Ema Bubalo retiring from the contest with an injury. However, being down 2-0 did not deter the Buffs.
Betina Tokac got the Buffs on the board with a 6-1, 6-3 win. Not long after, both Aya El Sayed and Mila Stanojevic forced a deciding third set in their respective singles matches. El Sayed never lost control of her last set and won it 6-3. On the other hand, Stanojevic went down 3-2 in her last set before winning four straight games to take the lead for CU.
After Lera Alexin’s loss, the match was tied at 3-3. Everything came down to the No. 5 singles match between CU’s Pia Rebec and Air Force’s Shivaani Selvin. The first set came down to a tiebreaker, and Rebec was able to win because of a stretch where she won four consecutive points late in the breaker. The second set was just as close, but after being tied at 5-5, Rebec was able to break serve and claim the next two games, winning the match and the overall head-to-head for Colorado.
The Buffs didn’t let a slow start in doubles play define the match, as they took four singles games to beat Air Force in exciting fashion.
After a day’s rest, the team was back in action at home on Sunday, taking on the Denver Pioneers in CU’s home opener. The Buffs were victorious in this match, but their recipe for success was different than it was against Air Force.
The black and gold were able to claim the doubles point thanks to duos Alexin/Rebec and Bubalo/Anya Nelson both winning their respective sets 6-4. Bubalo and Nelson’s match was a big one as they faced the No. 47 ranked duo in the nation, Denver’s Andrea Beltran and Marley Lambert.
CU also found a lot of success in singles play, as Stanojevic made a comeback from down 4-1 to win her first set before winning her second one 6-3. El Sayed’s match went the distance, but she couldn’t come away with the win. However, Rebec handled her opponent, winning both sets 6-4, and all of a sudden CU was up 3-1.
Betina Tokac needed a tiebreaker to win her first set but claimed the second one 6-3. At this point, CU already claimed the overall match 4-1, but Bubalo won her matchup anyway for some extra insurance. Finally, Alexin lost her match in three sets, giving DU one more point. Overall, that match wouldn’t matter as CU won the contest with a score of 5-2.
After starting the season hot and excelling in singles play, the team will get a well-deserved break before hosting another in-state foe, Colorado State, on Jan. 26.
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