Buffs Open UNLV Tournament On High Note

LAS VEGAS – The University of Colorado women's tennis team had a busy day in a pair of tournament Friday highlighted by five victories on the first day of the Rebel Invitational on the campus of UNLV.

Sophomore Megan Forster shined in her season debut after missing the rest of the fall season with an injury. She took care of business with a pair of 6-1 sets against Jasmine Rich of Utah. She will continue action in the fourth flight semifinals tomorrow.

Also for the Buffs in the win column was freshmen Sophia Derivan and Ellie Puzak. Derivan picked up a win in the third flight in a nail-biter of a match. She dropped the first set 6-2 to Nadia Gizdova of Georgia Tech, then rallied back to win a pair of 7-6 sets to steal the win. Puzak picked up a decisive win against Sara Alajbegovic of UNLV in a 6-2, 6-1 decision.

Four other Buffaloes dropped two-set matches in singles. Maria Campos fell 6-1, 6-2 to Kenya Jones of Georgia Tech in the first flight while Antonia Balzert fell 6-4, 6-2 to Alexa Bortles of Mississippi. Tallulah Farrow had a close 7-5 first set loss to Katya Hersh then fell in the second 6-2. Ky Ecton also had a close set, falling in the second set to Samantha Li of UNLV 7-6 after losing the first set 6-1.

Doubles competition went better for Colorado as Campos and Farrow took down a tandem from Oregon in a close 8-7 decision. Ecton and Puzak teamed up to take down a duo from Utah 8-4. Balzert and Derivan were the only doubles loss as they fell to a Georgia Tech team 8-3.

On the west coast, Sara Nayar ended action in the ITA Fall National Championship with a close loss to No.60 Janice Shin of Stanford. The first set was close at 7-6, then Nayar fell in the second 6-3.

Colorado continues action Saturday with both disciplines semifinals along with consolation matches in Vegas.

RESULTS
REBEL INVITATIONAL
Round One Singles
Flight One               Kenya Jones (GT) def. Maria Campos (CU) 6-1, 6-2
Flight Two              Alexa Bortles (MISS) def. Antonia Balzert (CU) 6-4, 6-2
Flight Three           Katya Hersh (UU) def. Tallulah Farrow (CU) 7-5, 6-2
Flight Three           Sophia Derivan (CU) def. Nadia Gizdova (GT) 2-6, 7-6, 7-6
Flight Four              Samantha Li (UNLV) def. Ky Ecton (CU) 6-1, 7-6
Flight Four              Megan Forster (CU) def. Jasmine Rich (UU) 6-1, 6-1
Flight Five               Ellie Puzak (CU) def. Sara Alajbegovic (UNLV) 6-2, 6-1

Round One Doubles
Flight One               Kenya Jones/Victoria Flores (GT) def. Antonia Balzert/Sophia Derivan (COLO) 8-3
Flight Two              Maria Campos/Tallulah Farrow (COLO) def. Lillian Mould/Myah Petchey (OREG) 8-7
Flight Two              Ky Ecton/Ellen Puzak (COLO) def. Jasmine Rich/Madison McKay (UU) 8-4

ITA Fall Championships
First Round            No.15 Christina Rosca (VAN) def. No.66 Sara Nayar (COLO) 6-1, 6-3
Cons. First Round No.66 Sara Nayar (COLO) def. No.29 Valeriya Zeleya (UCF) WD
Cons. Second Round             No.60 Janice Shin (STAN) def. No.66 Sara Nayar (COLO) 7-6, 6-3

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Maria Campos

Sophia Derivan

Ky Ecton

Tallulah Farrow

Megan Forster

Sara Nayar

Ellen Puzak