In a spirited showdown at the McLeod Tennis Center, the No. 61 Colorado Buffaloes faced off against the No.
30 Texas Tech Red Raiders, falling 4-0. Despite the scoreline, the Buffaloes showed grit and determination throughout the match.
The Buffaloes, now 10-9 overall and 2-7 in the Big 12, battled injuries but displayed resilience. Head coach Anthony Pham praised the team’s energy, especially in doubles, noting how close they came despite missing key players. The Buffs split the first two doubles matches and fought hard at the No. 1 spot, tying 5-5 against the No. 38 doubles team before Texas Tech edged ahead.
In singles play, Aya El Sayed and Lera Alexin nearly turned their matches around. El Sayed was on the brink of a comeback against Hailey Murphy, while Alexin was in a strong position against Mariia Hlahola. Anya Nelson and Rixt van der Werff also pushed their opponents to tiebreakers, showcasing the Buffs' tenacity.
The doubles competition saw Texas Tech strike first at the No. 2 spot, with Elena Daskalova and Mariia Hlahola defeating El Sayed and Yukiko Ikedo 6-3. The Buffs responded at No. 3, with Ema Bubalo and Nelson clinching a 6-4 victory. However, the No. 38-ranked duo of Kate Dmitrichenko and Hailey Murphy secured the doubles point for Texas Tech with a narrow 7-5 win.
In singles, the Red Raiders maintained momentum. Havana Kadi’s win at the No. 5 spot and Ella Brownback’s victory at No. 6 extended their lead.
At No. 4, Daskalova clinched the match for Texas Tech with a hard-fought win over Nelson.
Despite the clinched match, the Buffs were close to individual victories. El Sayed, after dropping the first set, was rallying strongly, and Alexin was leading in her second set. Van der Werff was battling in a second-set tiebreaker when play concluded.
Looking ahead, Colorado prepares to wrap up their road schedule in Arizona, facing No. 39 Arizona and No.
16 Arizona State. These upcoming matches offer another chance for the Buffs to showcase their resilience and skill.
Match Results
Doubles: 1.
No. 38 Dmitrichenko/Murphy (TT) def.
Alexin/Van der Werff (CU) 7-5 2.
Daskalova/Hlahola (TT) def. El Sayed/Ikedo (CU) 6-3
- Bubalo/Nelson (CU) def.
Brownback/Sleptsova (TT) 6-4
Singles: 1.
El Sayed (CU) vs. Murphy (TT) 1-6, 6-3, 5-2, unf.
- Van der Werff (CU) vs.
Dmitrichenko (TT) 3-6, 6-6 (1-3), unf. 3.
Alexin (CU) vs. Hlahola (TT) 7-6 (5), 5-2, unf.
- Daskalova (TT) def.
Nelson (CU) 7-6 (3), 6-1 5.
Kadi (TT) def. Crncan (CU) 6-3, 6-0
- Brownback (TT) def.
Ikedo (CU) 6-4, 6-3
The Buffaloes will look to bring their fighting spirit to Arizona, ready to challenge their upcoming opponents with the same heart and determination.