Colorado Falls Short to No. 52 Penn State
February 22, 2025 | Tennis
The Buffs held on tight to a close victory by the Nittany Lions, 4-3.
LAS VEGAS – Colorado dropped a close match to Penn State 4-3 this Saturday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex after capturing an impressive doubles win.
In their last non-conference match of the season, Colorado (6-2) took a 3-0 lead over Penn State heading into the final singles matches of the day.
Despite the team loss, Aya El Sayed and Pia Rebec were able to down a 77-ranked Penn State duo, their first upset of the season and third win all together.
Lera Alexin and Mila Stanojevic also won their third doubles match this season, solidifying the Buffs' doubles victory.
El Sayed and Rebec each picked up another win for the team in singles. With Colorado up 3-0, Penn State took the initiative, putting their four singles comebacks on the board and taking the match. Â
"Obviously a tough result today but very proud of the way we competed in both singles and doubles," says head coach Anthony Pham. "We have a group who competes to the last point, and we will continue to learn and grow. We will be ready to get back to work this week and get ready for two strong conference foes at home."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The second day in a row saw the opposing team take the first doubles match, this time at the No. 2 spot. Anya Nelson and Rixt van der Werff fell 6-3 to Jordina Cegarra and Patricia Grigoras.
Just as they had a day before, the Buffs rebounded and took the next match. El Sayed and Rebec took down the No. 77-ranked pairing Olivia Dorner and Maiko Uchijima at the top spot 6-4, allowing Colorado to clinch the doubles point.
Alexin and Stanojevic followed them up with a 7-5 win at No. 3 doubles over Jelena Vico and Yvonne Zuffova. This gave Colorado a 1-0 lead going into singles.
In singles, it was El Sayed who kept the momentum going. At No. 2 singles, she dispatched of Uchijima 6-0, 6-2 to extend the lead for Colorado.
Her doubles partner Rebec added the next win at No. 5 singles over Zuffova. She started hot in the first set, winning 6-0, and kept that going in the second, 6-2 to give the Buffs a 3-0 lead.
Needing a win, Penn State got the win at No. 1 singles in a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win by Dorner over Stanojevic.
Grigoras closed the gap further at No. 3 singles for the Nittany Lions. She defeated Tokac 0-6, 6-0, 6-2, bringing the score to 3-2.
Alexin took her singles match to the final set after taking the initiative in the first set and defeating Ciubotaru. Despite a tough fight, Alexin dropped the match and tied the score, 3-3.
In the final singles matchup of the day, van der Werff continued her fight after tying the match with a 6-3 win in the second set against Vico. With a back-and-forth battle, van der Werff fell short, giving Penn State their final win to close the day, 4-3.
UP NEXT
The Buffs finally return home after a month on the road to play their first Big 12 match in 14 years against Iowa State on Friday, Feb. 28.
RESULTS
Colorado 3, No. 52 Penn State 4
February 22, 2025
Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas, Nev.
Doubles
Aya El Sayed/Pia Rebec (CU) def. No. 77 Olivia Dorner/Maiko Uchijima (PSU) 6-4
Jordina Cegarra/ Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Anya Nelson/Rixt van der Werff (CU) 6-3
Lera Alexin/Mila Stanojevic (CU) def. Jelena Vico/Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 7-5
Order of Finish: (2,1,3*)
Singles
Olivia Dorner (PSU) def. Mila Stanojevic (CU) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Maiko Uchijima (PSU) 6-0, 6-2
Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Betina Tokac (CU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Jelena Vico (PSU) def. Rixt van der Werff (CU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Pia Rebec (CU) def. Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 6-0, 6-2
Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Lera Alexin (CU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: (2,5,1,3,6,4*)
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NOTES
In their last non-conference match of the season, Colorado (6-2) took a 3-0 lead over Penn State heading into the final singles matches of the day.
Despite the team loss, Aya El Sayed and Pia Rebec were able to down a 77-ranked Penn State duo, their first upset of the season and third win all together.
Lera Alexin and Mila Stanojevic also won their third doubles match this season, solidifying the Buffs' doubles victory.
El Sayed and Rebec each picked up another win for the team in singles. With Colorado up 3-0, Penn State took the initiative, putting their four singles comebacks on the board and taking the match. Â
"Obviously a tough result today but very proud of the way we competed in both singles and doubles," says head coach Anthony Pham. "We have a group who competes to the last point, and we will continue to learn and grow. We will be ready to get back to work this week and get ready for two strong conference foes at home."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The second day in a row saw the opposing team take the first doubles match, this time at the No. 2 spot. Anya Nelson and Rixt van der Werff fell 6-3 to Jordina Cegarra and Patricia Grigoras.
Just as they had a day before, the Buffs rebounded and took the next match. El Sayed and Rebec took down the No. 77-ranked pairing Olivia Dorner and Maiko Uchijima at the top spot 6-4, allowing Colorado to clinch the doubles point.
Alexin and Stanojevic followed them up with a 7-5 win at No. 3 doubles over Jelena Vico and Yvonne Zuffova. This gave Colorado a 1-0 lead going into singles.
In singles, it was El Sayed who kept the momentum going. At No. 2 singles, she dispatched of Uchijima 6-0, 6-2 to extend the lead for Colorado.
Her doubles partner Rebec added the next win at No. 5 singles over Zuffova. She started hot in the first set, winning 6-0, and kept that going in the second, 6-2 to give the Buffs a 3-0 lead.
Needing a win, Penn State got the win at No. 1 singles in a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win by Dorner over Stanojevic.
Grigoras closed the gap further at No. 3 singles for the Nittany Lions. She defeated Tokac 0-6, 6-0, 6-2, bringing the score to 3-2.
Alexin took her singles match to the final set after taking the initiative in the first set and defeating Ciubotaru. Despite a tough fight, Alexin dropped the match and tied the score, 3-3.
In the final singles matchup of the day, van der Werff continued her fight after tying the match with a 6-3 win in the second set against Vico. With a back-and-forth battle, van der Werff fell short, giving Penn State their final win to close the day, 4-3.
UP NEXT
The Buffs finally return home after a month on the road to play their first Big 12 match in 14 years against Iowa State on Friday, Feb. 28.
RESULTS
Colorado 3, No. 52 Penn State 4
February 22, 2025
Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas, Nev.
Doubles
Aya El Sayed/Pia Rebec (CU) def. No. 77 Olivia Dorner/Maiko Uchijima (PSU) 6-4
Jordina Cegarra/ Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Anya Nelson/Rixt van der Werff (CU) 6-3
Lera Alexin/Mila Stanojevic (CU) def. Jelena Vico/Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 7-5
Order of Finish: (2,1,3*)
Singles
Olivia Dorner (PSU) def. Mila Stanojevic (CU) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Maiko Uchijima (PSU) 6-0, 6-2
Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Betina Tokac (CU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Jelena Vico (PSU) def. Rixt van der Werff (CU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Pia Rebec (CU) def. Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 6-0, 6-2
Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Lera Alexin (CU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: (2,5,1,3,6,4*)
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NOTES
- This was Colorado's last non-conference match before starting Big 12 Conference play, joining the conference again for the first time since 2011.
Players Mentioned
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