Friday, November 6
San Diego, Calif.
Colorado
vs
Day 1
November 06, 2026 | Tennis
SAN DIEGO – The Colorado Buffaloes tennis team swept doubles competition with three victories before adding two singles wins to open the first of a three day competition slate at the San Diego State Invitational Friday at the Aztec Tennis Complex.
Out of the gate all three Colorado duos claimed dominant wins, setting the tone to begin the day. Returning Buffs and NCAA Individual Championship qualifying duo Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo met familiar Denver opponents, defeating the Pioneers 6-3.
On the next two courts Heidi Crncan and California native Willow Gretsch faced in-state rival Colorado State, securing an important 6-3 victory, after narrowly falling to the pair in October. Pia Rebec and Louise Ternstroem claimed an additional doubles win for the Buffs, defeating San Diego's opponents 6-4, allowing Colorado to sweep doubles play for the day.Â
"I thought we did a nice job in doubles today," CU Head Coach Anthony Pham said. "Our response mechanism was outstanding and we played with great enthusiasm overall."
Two additional wins came later in the day for the Buffs, with Bubalo and Crncan each securing straight set singles victories. Crncan defeated UCSD freshman Kannchaya Chugwantan in a strong 6-0, 6-1 victory, only allowing one game from the Triton, while Bubalo defeated fellow UCSD player 6-3, 6-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Traveling to the Golden State for the second time this season, the Buffs opened play at 9 a.m. with Alexin and Bubalo taking the doubles court for the first time since securing a bid to NCAA Individual Championships while at ITA Mountain Regionals in October.
With hopes high entering the weekend, they met Denver's Sofia Mavor and Paulina Jurkowska, the Pioneer duo who fell to the Buffs during Regionals and the Colorado Cup earlier this fall. Â The CU duo made it three in a row after taking an early lead and closing out the set 6-3 while also extending their win streak to six straight matches.
Crncan and Gretsch were matched with other known opponents a court down, facing Colorado State's Diana Lizarazo and Leyla Tozin for a second straight competition. In similar fashion, the Buffs found success, fighting through nine games to take the set 6-3.
With the Buffs momentum high, Rebec and Ternstroem neared the final doubles competition of the day, facing San Diego's Lila Grace Bachour and Anna Linn Moll. Securing important points in key moments through a competitive matchup, Colorado added another victory to the morning's results, taking the set 6-4 and claiming a successful doubles sweep.
Moving into singles competition, Rebec took on Stanford's Caroline Driscoll, marking her first competitive singles appearance of the season. The Slovenia native challenged the Cardinal through a closely contested opening set, with Driscoll taking the first 6-4. Rebec continued to battle in the second before the Stanford competitor closed out the match 6-3.
Carrying energy into singles play following a big morning win, Bubalo followed, showcasing an impressive performance against UC San Diego's Sonya Goldberg. The fourth-year Buff took the opening set 6-3 before building on her early success in the second, finishing with a 6-2 to earn another victory to the tally.
Colorado's success against the Tritons continued when second-year Crncan faced Kannchaya Chugwantana. The Buff took control early, delivering a commanding opening set, taking complete control of the court and shutting out Chugwantana 6-0, not dropping a single game. Showing no signs of slowing down, the Buff followed with another dominant set, allowing just one game in the second to complete an impressive 6-0, 6-1 straight-set victory.
As the singles slate continued, Alexin faced Cassie Blakey, taking the match to a competitive three-set battle. After dropping the first set 6-4, Alexin answered with an intense 6-3 second set to equalize. The Colorado returner fought through a deciding third before Blakey took the final set 6-1.
Ternstroem revisited a previous opponent in Denver's Jurkowska. The two competed through a close opening set, with Jurkowska holding a 6-5 advantage before Ternstroem retired.
UP NEXT
The second day of the tournament slate will begin for Colorado at 9 a.m. local time Saturday, with doubles play scheduled to open the day for both duos. Singles play for the four Buffs will follow with semifinals set to begin at 9:45 a.m.Â
"Our group continues to compete very hard across the board," Pham said. "Tommorow is another opportunity for us to get better!"
RESULTS
Doubles
Lera Alexin/Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Sofia Mavor/Paulina Jurkowska (DU) 6-3
Heidi Crncan/Willow Gretsch (CU) def. Diana Lizarazo/Leyla Tozin (CSU) 6-3
Pia Rebec/ Louise Ternstroem (CU) def. Lila Grace Bachour/Anna Linn Moll (USD) 6-4
Singles
Caroline Driscoll (Stanford) def. Pia Rebec (CU) 6-4, 6-3Â
Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Sonya Goldberg (UCSD) 6-3, 6-2Â
Heidi Crncan (CU) def. Kannchaya Chugwantana (UCSD) 6-0, 6-1
Cassie Blakey (UCSD) def. Lera Alexin (CU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Paulina Jurkowska (DU) def. Louise Ternstroem (CU) 6-5 ret.
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Out of the gate all three Colorado duos claimed dominant wins, setting the tone to begin the day. Returning Buffs and NCAA Individual Championship qualifying duo Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo met familiar Denver opponents, defeating the Pioneers 6-3.
On the next two courts Heidi Crncan and California native Willow Gretsch faced in-state rival Colorado State, securing an important 6-3 victory, after narrowly falling to the pair in October. Pia Rebec and Louise Ternstroem claimed an additional doubles win for the Buffs, defeating San Diego's opponents 6-4, allowing Colorado to sweep doubles play for the day.Â
"I thought we did a nice job in doubles today," CU Head Coach Anthony Pham said. "Our response mechanism was outstanding and we played with great enthusiasm overall."
Two additional wins came later in the day for the Buffs, with Bubalo and Crncan each securing straight set singles victories. Crncan defeated UCSD freshman Kannchaya Chugwantan in a strong 6-0, 6-1 victory, only allowing one game from the Triton, while Bubalo defeated fellow UCSD player 6-3, 6-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Traveling to the Golden State for the second time this season, the Buffs opened play at 9 a.m. with Alexin and Bubalo taking the doubles court for the first time since securing a bid to NCAA Individual Championships while at ITA Mountain Regionals in October.
With hopes high entering the weekend, they met Denver's Sofia Mavor and Paulina Jurkowska, the Pioneer duo who fell to the Buffs during Regionals and the Colorado Cup earlier this fall. Â The CU duo made it three in a row after taking an early lead and closing out the set 6-3 while also extending their win streak to six straight matches.
Crncan and Gretsch were matched with other known opponents a court down, facing Colorado State's Diana Lizarazo and Leyla Tozin for a second straight competition. In similar fashion, the Buffs found success, fighting through nine games to take the set 6-3.
With the Buffs momentum high, Rebec and Ternstroem neared the final doubles competition of the day, facing San Diego's Lila Grace Bachour and Anna Linn Moll. Securing important points in key moments through a competitive matchup, Colorado added another victory to the morning's results, taking the set 6-4 and claiming a successful doubles sweep.
Moving into singles competition, Rebec took on Stanford's Caroline Driscoll, marking her first competitive singles appearance of the season. The Slovenia native challenged the Cardinal through a closely contested opening set, with Driscoll taking the first 6-4. Rebec continued to battle in the second before the Stanford competitor closed out the match 6-3.
Carrying energy into singles play following a big morning win, Bubalo followed, showcasing an impressive performance against UC San Diego's Sonya Goldberg. The fourth-year Buff took the opening set 6-3 before building on her early success in the second, finishing with a 6-2 to earn another victory to the tally.
Colorado's success against the Tritons continued when second-year Crncan faced Kannchaya Chugwantana. The Buff took control early, delivering a commanding opening set, taking complete control of the court and shutting out Chugwantana 6-0, not dropping a single game. Showing no signs of slowing down, the Buff followed with another dominant set, allowing just one game in the second to complete an impressive 6-0, 6-1 straight-set victory.
As the singles slate continued, Alexin faced Cassie Blakey, taking the match to a competitive three-set battle. After dropping the first set 6-4, Alexin answered with an intense 6-3 second set to equalize. The Colorado returner fought through a deciding third before Blakey took the final set 6-1.
Ternstroem revisited a previous opponent in Denver's Jurkowska. The two competed through a close opening set, with Jurkowska holding a 6-5 advantage before Ternstroem retired.
UP NEXT
The second day of the tournament slate will begin for Colorado at 9 a.m. local time Saturday, with doubles play scheduled to open the day for both duos. Singles play for the four Buffs will follow with semifinals set to begin at 9:45 a.m.Â
"Our group continues to compete very hard across the board," Pham said. "Tommorow is another opportunity for us to get better!"
RESULTS
Doubles
Lera Alexin/Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Sofia Mavor/Paulina Jurkowska (DU) 6-3
Heidi Crncan/Willow Gretsch (CU) def. Diana Lizarazo/Leyla Tozin (CSU) 6-3
Pia Rebec/ Louise Ternstroem (CU) def. Lila Grace Bachour/Anna Linn Moll (USD) 6-4
Singles
Caroline Driscoll (Stanford) def. Pia Rebec (CU) 6-4, 6-3Â
Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Sonya Goldberg (UCSD) 6-3, 6-2Â
Heidi Crncan (CU) def. Kannchaya Chugwantana (UCSD) 6-0, 6-1
Cassie Blakey (UCSD) def. Lera Alexin (CU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Paulina Jurkowska (DU) def. Louise Ternstroem (CU) 6-5 ret.
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Players Mentioned
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