Buffs Tennis Ready to Open Spring Season with Depth, Experience, and New Talent
BOULDER - The Colorado Buffaloes women’s tennis team is set to kick off its spring campaign this weekend with a pair of home matches that could set the tone for a season of growth and redemption. After a challenging 2024-25 season that ended with a 9-14 overall record and just two wins in Big 12 play, the Buffs are looking to flip the script behind a deeper, more experienced lineup and a few promising new faces.
Colorado opens the spring slate Friday against Montana State, followed by a Sunday showdown with Air Force Academy. And according to head coach Anthony Pham, this version of the Buffs might be the most competitive group he’s had in his five years at the helm.
“We're pretty excited about our team this year,” Pham said. “This is the most depth we've had competitively. We've already seen it in the fall, and with Aya [El Sayed] back for the spring, we’re ready to go and see what we can accomplish.”
El Sayed’s return is a big one. The graduate student brings veteran leadership and a resume that speaks for itself: 50 career singles wins and 36 doubles victories, 19 of those alongside former partner Pia Rebec. Her 2024-25 season was cut short by injury, but her presence this spring could be a stabilizing force for a lineup looking to take a step forward.
Senior Anya Nelson also returns after a gritty finish to last season. Thrust into the No. 5 and 6 singles spots due to a teammate’s injury, Nelson picked up four singles wins and added 22 doubles victories-19 of those with partner Ema Bubalo. That duo made history last fall, becoming the first ITA regional champion doubles team in CU history and maintaining a consistent national ranking throughout the year.
Fellow senior Rixt Van der Werff is back as well, aiming to build on a 2024-25 season that showed flashes of promise before being interrupted by injury. She notched seven singles wins and ended the year ranked No. 19 in the region, adding four doubles wins to her resume.
With a strong veteran core in place, Colorado is also getting a boost from its newcomers. Freshmen Lani Brotman and Heidi Crncan turned heads during fall competition, combining for a 15-9 singles record.
Brotman also found early success in doubles, going 5-3 with fellow freshman Yukiko Ikedo. It’s the kind of immediate impact the Buffs were hoping for from their young talent-and it adds another layer of depth to a roster that’s looking more complete than in years past.
“For this weekend, Montana State and Air Force will provide some good tests for our team this early in the year,” Pham said. “We’ve had a couple good weeks of practice, and the team is gelling. They’re ready to go and compete again.”
Colorado will look to stay perfect against Montana State, a team they’ve beaten five times without a loss, including their last meeting in 2019. The Bobcats come in at 2-0 and are led by a familiar face in former CU assistant coach Hailey Barrett.
On Sunday, the Buffs will face off against longtime regional rival Air Force Academy. The two programs have met 23 times over the last 35 years, with Colorado owning a commanding 20-3 edge in the series. The Buffs have won 13 straight against the Falcons, including a tight 4-3 victory on the road last season.
Both matches will be played at the Meadows Club in Boulder-Friday’s match against Montana State starts at 6 p.m. (MT), and Sunday’s contest with Air Force is set for 2 p.m. Fans can follow the action on Instagram and X at @cubuffstennis.
With a mix of seasoned leadership, emerging freshmen, and a renewed sense of purpose, this Colorado team has the pieces to make some noise this spring. The journey starts now.