In Ames, Iowa, the Colorado Buffaloes' tennis squad continued their impressive start to the conference season, claiming their sixth consecutive dual victory with a commanding 4-0 win over Iowa State.
This victory propels Colorado to a 9-2 overall record and a 1-0 start in Big 12 play, while Iowa State drops to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Head coach Anthony Pham couldn't be more pleased with his team's performance, stating, "Our group is doing an exceptional job of competing and finding ways to secure victories. Iowa State is a tough opponent, and the match was tighter than the score suggests."
The Buffs set the tone early by clinching the doubles point with wins in the first two matches, laying a solid foundation for their singles success.
Aya El Sayed delivered a standout performance, securing a victory against her 64th-ranked opponent in the top singles spot. Alongside El Sayed, Colorado notched wins in the No. 4 and No. 5 singles positions.
Lera Alexin kicked things off with a decisive win at No. 5, while Lani Brotman sealed the deal with a hard-fought victory in the third set at No. 4.
Match Breakdown:
The doubles competition saw Alexin and Rixt van der Werff dominate on court two, defeating Julia Camblor and Gabriella Kellner 6-1. This early win set the stage for El Sayed and Pia Rebec, who mirrored the 6-1 scoreline at the top spot against Mari Paz Alberto Vilar and Stanislava Shulzhenko, clinching the doubles point for Colorado.
In singles, Alexin quickly dispatched her opponent, Martin Ramirez, 6-0, 6-1, boosting Colorado to a 2-0 lead. El Sayed then took center stage, overcoming Vilar 6-2, 7-6 (3) in a thrilling tiebreaker. Brotman wrapped up the match with a comeback win over Shulzhenko, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
Van der Werff and Rebec were both in the midst of intense battles when the match was clinched. Van der Werff, after narrowly losing a first-set tiebreaker, was staging a comeback in the second. Rebec had just taken the lead in her final set when play concluded.
Anya Nelson also put up a strong fight at No. 6, winning her first set before falling behind in the second.
Coach Pham praised the team's resilience and readiness to face challenges head-on. "I'm proud of our team for stepping up to every challenge," he said. "We'll prepare for a strong Kansas team on Sunday."
Looking Ahead:
The Buffaloes are set to continue their conference journey in Lawrence, Kansas, against the Jayhawks. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MT) at the Jayhawk Tennis Center, with live updates available via @cubuffstennis.
Match Results:
Doubles:
- El Sayed/Rebec (CU) def.
Alberto Vilar/Shulzhenko (ISU), 6-1
- Alexin/Van der Werff (CU) def.
Camblor/Kellner (ISU), 6-1
- Brotman/Nelson (CU) vs.
Narker/San Martin Ramirez (ISU), 2-5, unf.
Singles:
- El Sayed (CU) def.
No. 64 Alberto Vilar (ISU), 6-2, 7-6 (3)
- Van der Werff (CU) vs. Narker (ISU), 6-7 (2), 6-5, unf.
- Rebec (CU) vs. Camblor (ISU), 6-3, 4-6, 4-3, unf.
- Brotman (CU) def. Shulzhenko (ISU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
- Alexin (CU) def. San Martin Ramirez (ISU), 6-0, 6-1
- Nelson (CU) vs. Vargas (ISU), 6-4, 0-6, 1-2, unf.
The Buffs' dominance over the Cyclones continues, marking their 30th win against Iowa State and extending their dual win streak this season. Alexin and van der Werff remain undefeated this season, with El Sayed and Rebec also showing strong performances at the top.