The Colorado Buffaloes made a clean statement in doubles and backed it up in singles Wednesday at the 2026 ITA Mountain Regional Championships in Provo, Utah.
On the tournament’s second day, six Buffs stepped into the main draw for the first time, and Colorado answered with a sweep in doubles plus three singles wins. The day started fast and stayed that way, with returning pairs Heidi Crncan and Willow Gretsch setting the tone first.
Crncan and Gretsch handled Air Force’s Tana Christopulos and Tia Christopulos 8-1 in a pro-set that never really felt in doubt. CU assistant coach Erick Garcia liked what he saw from the duo.
"It was nice to see how they kept their composure and their focus, and didn't let up one bit," CU Assistant Coach Erick Garcia said. "This will be good for their confidence level moving into the second round."
Colorado kept rolling from there. Pia Rebec and Louise Ternstroem followed with an 8-3 win over another Air Force pairing, Stephanie Marcheret and Maya Michalski, giving the Buffs a full sweep of doubles play and moving both teams into the Round of 32.
Rebec’s result stood out for another reason: it marked her season fall debut after returning from an offseason injury, and it came alongside Ternstroem in the pair’s first doubles test together.
Singles brought more work, and Colorado kept delivering. Ternstroem knocked off Idaho State’s Veronika Zarovna in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to punch her ticket to Thursday’s Round of 32.
Ema Bubalo had the day’s toughest early climb. She dropped the first set 3-6 against BYU’s Cara Korhonen, then flipped the match by taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-4. Crncan did the same in a tighter battle with Northern Arizona’s Madelynn Laudwig, coming through in three sets and edging the third 7-5.
Not every CU result went the Buffs’ way. Lera Alexin fell to BYU’s Sage Bergeson, 6-3, 6-2, and Yukiko Ikedo lost to Utah’s Hams Metwali, 6-2, 6-1. Both still managed to collect games and points in key stretches.
Colorado now has three doubles teams alive in the Round of 32. Alexin and Bubalo will join the field after earning a first-round bye as the No. 2 seeded doubles team.
Singles play continues as well, with the main draw Round of 32 set for Thursday and consolation action also on the schedule for Alexin and Ikedo.
Doubles Round of 64
Heidi Crncan / Willow Gretsch (CU) def. Tana Christopulos/Tia Christopulos (Air Force) 8-1
Pia Rebec / Louise Ternstroem (CU) def. Stephanie Marcheret/Maya Michalski (Air Force) 8-3
Singles Round of 64
Louise Ternstroem (CU) def. Veronika Zarovna (Idaho St.) 6-3, 6-2
Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Cara Korhonen (BYU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Sage Bergeson (BYU) def. Lera Alexin (CU) 6-3, 6-2
Hams Metwali (Utah) def. Yukiko Ikedo (CU) 6-2, 6-1
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