Colorado Battles But Falls To Denver

Sunday, February 1

Denver, CO

4 p.m.

Colorado

Denver

February 01, 2026 | Tennis

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The Buffs take their first loss of the season against the Pioneers, 4-2.

By: Teagan Schreiber, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

DENVER – The Colorado Buffaloes tennis team took its first loss of the season in a close, hard-fought match against the Denver Pioneers, 4-2, Sunday night at the Denver Tennis Park.

"These matches, you hate to drop them, but early in the year, we must learn and grow from it. Denver is a good team. We knew it was going to be a battle. It's just handling those tight moments a bit better and making sure we're not the first ones to blink."

The Buffs started the day off with a win in what was a closely contended doubles match-up. After a close loss at the top spot, Colorado rallied back for two victories to take the first point leading into singles.

Singles was a close finish coming down to the last two courts. Colorado found one victory at the No. 3 spot from Ema Bubalo but fell short in four courts to give the Pioneers the win. After doing down 3-2, the Buffs were in the third set in the final two singles matches.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles started off with a loss at the top spot, with Ema Bubalo and Anya Nelson falling short against Novak and Lambert, 6-2.

Pia Rebec and Aya El Sayed picked it up at No. 2, finding a 6-2 victory over Cai and Wikander to even the playing field.

In a back-and-forth at No. 3, Lera Alexin and Rixt van der Werff brought the score to 5-5, keeping it close against Adkins and Cinkova. The pair managed to pick up two games, taking the 7-5 win and giving Colorado the doubles point.

Singles competition began with a tough battle at the top spot for El Sayed's return to the singles lineup. El Sayed faced No. 77 Louise Wikander, and fell short in a 6-2, 6-4, straight set to tie it up, 1-1.

Bubalo followed at No. 3 to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. The junior faced Adkins, taking the Pioneer down in matching 6-4 sets.

The Pioneers found their 3-2 lead at No. 4 and 5, with Rebec and Alexin following in two close sets. Rebec faced Cinkova, falling short in matching 6-4 sets. Alexin kept the fight going against Becirovic, but ultimately fell short, 7-5, 6-4.

A chance to give the Buffs the upper hand came at No. 2 and 6, with a tough battle from van der Werff and Lani Brotman. Brotman faced Cai at No. 6, taking the first set in a four-point tiebreaker. The last two sets went to Cai, 6-4, 6-3, securing Denver's win.

Despite taking her first set against Lambert in a five-point tiebreak, van der Werff fell just short of a second set, and went unfinished in the third due to the Pioneers clinching the victory.

UP NEXT
Colorado will continue competition after a week off, heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a three-match lineup. The Buffs will face Alabama on Feb. 13, followed by Minnesota and St. Thomas on Feb. 15.

RESULTS
Doubles

Becirovic/Lambert (DU) def. Nelson/Bubalo (CU), 6-2
Rebec/El Sayed (CU) def. Cai/Wikander (DU), 6-2
Alexin/van der Werff (CU) def. Adkins/Cinkova (DU), 7-5

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles

No. 77 Louise Wikander (DU) def. Aya El Sayed (CU), 6-2, 6-4
Marley Lambert (DU) vs. Rixt Van der Werff (CU), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 1-1, unf.
Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Zoe Adkins (DU), 6-4, 6-4
Natalie Cinkova (DU) def. Pia Rebec (CU), 6-4, 6-4
Hana Becirovic Novak (DU) def. Lera Alexin (CU), 7-5, 6-4
Yunfei Cai (DU) def. Lani Brotman (CU), 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

NOTES

Duo Alexin and van der Werff now hold a seven-match win streak, which started on November 7, 2025.
Bubalo recorded her 24^th career singles victory, the third highest for the team.
El Sayed and Rebec record their second win of the season as a duo, and their 21^st career win together.