The Colorado Buffaloes are headed back into fall competition with their biggest lineup yet. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 13, and running through Saturday, Oct. 17, the Buffs will be at BYU for the 2026 ITA Mountain Regional Championship in Provo, Utah.
For Colorado, the timing matters. This will be the first time all season the Buffs are close to full strength, and seven players will be in action - the most Colorado has put on a tournament slate so far this fall.
“Our team is pumped to be competing at regionals this week,” head coach Anthony Pham said. “This group has been working very hard both on the courts and in the gym, and are looking forward to taking advantage of the opportunities available to them.”
Colorado’s doubles group enters the week with momentum. Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo, coming off a strong doubles showing in the Buffs’ last tournament, are the No. 2 seed and will receive a first-round bye. They’ll wait for the winner of the Montana-Idaho match.
The Buffs also have work to do in singles. Second-year Yukiko Ikedo is Colorado’s entry in the qualifying singles draw, while the other six Buffs will play in the main draw.
“This is one of our biggest weeks of our fall,” assistant coach Erick Garcia said. “We feel like we are ready to perform and if we play the way we are capable, we will have a good chance to compete for the qualifying spot for nationals.”
Colorado’s doubles pairings include Willow Gretsch and Heidi Crncan against Air Force twins Tia and Tana Christopolus, while Pia Rebec and first-year Louise Ternstroem will face the Falcons’ Maya Michalski and Stephanie Marcheret.
“The region continues to get stronger and stronger,” Pham said. “Erick and I are excited to see how the team responds to all of the challenges we will encounter.”
Action begins Tuesday morning, with the Buffs looking to build on their early fall results over the five-day event.
In Other News...
Colorado Faces A Familiar Isaac Wilson Problem Against Utah
Isaac Wilsons move from Utah to Colorado has added a little extra edge to an already interesting matchup, and Utah coach Morgan Scalley didnt sound like someone surprised by the challenge ahead. Scalley praised Wilsons arm talent while also stressing the basic truth of the sport: it takes more than one player to win a game. With Wilson and cornerback Jason Stokes Jr. both set to line up against their former school, the Buffaloes are dealing with the kind of familiar crossover that can make a regular-season game feel a little more personal.
For Colorado, the intrigue goes beyond the roster links and into how much Utah already understands about the players it helped develop. Scalleys comments made clear that the reunion angle only goes so far, since both sides know this is still about execution, not nostalgia. Even so, when a quarterback and a defensive back arrive from the same program and end up staring down their old teammates, the matchup naturally carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Sends Colorado Fans A Blunt Warning Before Utah
Colorados trip to Utah comes with more than the usual conference edge. Deion Sanders spent his time with the media making clear that the Buffs are walking into a difficult matchup, one against a team he respects on both sides of the ball. He singled out Utah coach Morgan Scalley, pointed to the Utes offense and defense as major problems for any opponent, and left little doubt that this is a game Colorado will need to handle with urgency.
The stakes only feel higher because of where Colorados offense has been lately, and the betting line reflects that reality with Utah favored by 15.5 points. Sanders also settled one of the teams biggest questions by indicating Isaac Wilson will get the start at quarterback, a choice that keeps Julian Lewis waiting a bit longer. Against a Utah defense built to test every weakness, the Buffs are going to need more than a cleaner script to keep this one competitive. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Betting On Isaac Wilson In A Brutal Spot
Deion Sanders is sticking with Isaac Wilson at quarterback coming out of the bye week, and the move carries a little extra weight for Colorado as it heads into one of its most awkward matchups of the season. Wilson, a transfer from Utah, got his first start for the Buffs and showed both sides of the ledger, helping the offense find the end zone while also struggling with the kind of mistakes that can quickly tighten the leash on a new starter.
Now the next stop is even more complicated, with Colorado set to face Utah and Wilson expected to lead the offense against the program he just left. Julian Lewis and Kaneal Sweetwyne are waiting in the wings, but for the moment Sanders is betting on Wilson to steady things and keep the job as the Buffs try to navigate a tough stretch with familiar faces on the other sideline. [Read more 🡒]