Colorado
Arizona
Tennis Drops Third Pac-12 Match In A Row
March 13, 2015 | Tennis
BOULDER - For the first time this season the No. 47 University of Colorado women's tennis team hosted a match outdoors at the CU tennis complex located on south campus, however the beautiful weather couldn't help the Buffaloes get their first conference win, losing to the No. 50 Arizona Wildcats, 7-0 Friday afternoon.
The loss drops the Buffaloes record on the season to 9-5 and 0-3 in the Pac-12. The win was Arizona's conference opener improving to 10-1.
“Overall, I think we fought well,” said CU head coach Nicole Kenneally. “Obviously against any Pac-12 team you have to do the basics well from the get-go. We gave them a little bit of a lead and most good teams, when they get a lead, are going to jump on that and ride it to the end. We will come back on Sunday ready to rebound and compete. I fully expect us to play like Buffalo warriors on Sunday.”
Colorado began the day continuing an unsettling trend, dropping the doubles point. The Buffaloes have yet to win a doubles point in conference play this season and have lost the last five doubles points.
Arizona started its scoring with the No. 3 spot of senior Laura Oldham and freshmen Devin Chypyha defeating Vitaliya Alkhovik and Erin Strachan, 8-1. It was the first loss for the Alkhovik/Strachan team evening out their record at 1-1 for the spring.
The clinching point was secured for Arizona at the No. 1 team of juniors Shayne Austin and Briar Preston, beating Alex Aiello and Ashley Tiefel, 8-3. The loss drops Aiello and Tiefel to 6-5 during the dual season.
Colorado wouldn't fare much better when singles play started, dropping all six singles points for the second time this season and first time at home.
Starting the scoring for Arizona was junior Inge Hendrikx at No. 6, beating Tiefel in straight sets 6-0, 6-2. Playing the No. 3 and scoring next for UA, was Oldham, who would also won in straight sets beating Kyra Wojcik 6-3, 6-2.
The fourth and clinching point for Arizona would come from the No. 4 spot with Chypyha beating Strachan in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. It was the first time the CU freshman has played the fourth spot dropping to 1-2 during her first semester of collegiate play.
If any positives were to be taken from the day for Colorado it was the play of Aiello at No. 2. Facing Preston, who is ranked 97 nationally, Aiello would fight back in the first set to force a tiebreaker before dropping a 7-6 (7-4) decision. Aiello fell in the second set 6-4.
The loss was Aiello's third in a row, however all against ranked opponents.
Finishing up the day was the match at No. 1 between Ormeño Ruiz and Arizona's Lauren Marker. Ormeño Ruiz would win the first set 6-4, but fell in the second set 7-5 forcing a deciding third set. Again, Ormeño Ruiz came up short 10-7, but not before crawling back from a 6-1 deficit.
The loss drops the CU sophomore's record to 7-5 in career three set matches.
The Buffs played without their top two singles players, Julyette Steur and Tina Bokhua, for the second straight match. The two have won a combined 25 singles wins this year.
Kenneally said, “It's about a 50/50 chance we will see Julyette on Sunday.” As for Bokhua, Kenneally said “it's unlikely we will see her this weekend and are hoping to have her return next weekend.”
Colorado continues its five-match home stand on Sunday at 10 a.m. against the No. 24 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils. The following weekend brings in Washington (March 20) and Oregon (March 22). Please check www.CUBuffs.com under the women's tennis page for venue updates.
No. 50 Arizona 7, No. 47 Colorado 0
Arizona (10-1, 1-0 Pac-12), CU (9-5, 0-3 Pac-12)
March 13, University of Colorado Tennis Complex
1d) Austin/Preston (ARIZ) def. Aiello/Tiefel (CU) 8-3
2d) Hendrikx/Marker (ARIZ) vs. Ormeño Ruiz/Wojcik (CU) 5-4 DNF
3d) Oldham/Chypyha (ARIZ) def. Alkhovik/Strachan (CU) 8-1
Order of finish: 3, *1
1s) Lauren Marker (ARIZ) def. Nuria Ormeño Ruiz (CU) 4-6, 7-5(10-7)
2s) No. 97 Briar Preston (ARIZ) def. Alex Aiello (CU) 7-6(3), 6-4
3s) Laura Oldham (ARIZ) def. Kyra Wojcik (CU) 6-3, 6-2
4s) Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) def. Erin Strachan (CU) 6-1, 6-4
5s) Shayne Austin (ARIZ) def. Vitaliya Alkhovik (CU) 6-4, 6-3
6s) Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) def. Ashley Tiefel (CU) 6-0, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 3, *4, 5, 2, 1
Players Mentioned
