Buffs Fall to No. 30 Texas Tech

Saturday, March 28

Lubbock, TX

11 a.m.

Colorado

Texas Tech

March 28, 2026 | Tennis

Box Score Donate to Tennis

By: Aiden Tank, Athletic Communications

BOULDER – The No. 61 Colorado Buffaloes tennis team dropped a ranked match-up Saturday afternoon against No. 30 Texas Tech, 4-0, at the McLeod Tennis Center.

Colorado now holds a 10-9 overall record and a 2-7 mark in the Big 12. Texas Tech moves to 14-7 overall, and 5-4 in conference play.

"Proud of our group today," head coach Anthony Pham said following the match. "Our energy and approach in doubles were significantly better, and we gave ourselves a chance. In singles, Aya hung in there and turned her match around, and Lera did a nice job putting herself in a winning position. Unfortunately, we're dealing with some adversity, with injuries piling up, but our team battled today like they always do. We will get back to work and prepare for another opportunity next weekend in Arizona."

Despite missing two players in doubles and three in singles due to injuries, the Buffs had opportunities to take matches. Colorado, after splitting the first two doubles matches, found itself tied 5-5 at the No. 1 spot against the No. 38 doubles team in the country. A few points went in Texas Tech's favor.

In singles after a slow start, the Buffs found a rhythm at the top of the order with Aya El Sayed and Lera Alexin both one game away from clinching their match. Two other matches saw tiebreakers:
Anya Nelson, who lost hers in the first set, and Rixt van der Werff, who, after losing the first set, was locked in a tiebreaker when the match was clinched.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Starting off doubles competition, Texas Tech notched a win at the No. 2 spot against the Buffs. Elena Daskalova and Mariia Hlahola found a 6-3 victory over El Sayed and Yukiko Ikedo, marking their second match as a pair.

The Buffs tied it up at No. 3, with Ema Bubalo and Nelson taking the victory over Texas Tech's Ella Brownback and Polina Sleptsova. The Black and Gold found a 6-4 victory, marking their 38^th career win together.

At the top spot, a ranked Raider duo sealed the doubles point for Texas Tech. No. 38 Kate Dmitrichenko and Hailey Murphy picked up their victory over Alexin and Van der Werff, 7-5, despite a close trail from the Buffs, giving Texas Tech an early 1-0 lead.

As the action flipped to singles, the Red Raiders kept the momentum going. Havana Kadi claimed the No. 5 spot against Heidi Crncan 6-3, 6-0 to take a 2-0 lead.

Ikedo battled at No. 6 singles against Brownback in both sets. In the end, Texas Tech added another point with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to go ahead 3-0.

In a first-set battle between Nelson and Daskalova, neither could take a commanding lead. In the end, it came down to a tiebreaker. Nelson kept it close, trailing 4-2 before Daskalova took three of the last four points to win the set 7-6 (3). The final set went to Texas Tech 6-1 to clinch the 4-0 team victory.

Despite the match being clinched, the Buffs were closing in on wins of their own. At the top spot against Murphy, El Sayed was one game away from completing her comeback. After losing the first set 6-1, she outscored Murphy 11-5 the rest of the way. Ultimately, the match ended 1-6, 6-3, 5-2, with the overall match clinched.

At No. 2 singles, Van der Werff was looking for a comeback of her own against Dmitrichenko. Following a 6-3 first set that went to Texas Tech, Van der Werff rallied and was in the middle of a second-set tiebreaker when the match was clinched.

Alexin was the lone Buff to win her first set, doing so at No. 3 singles against Hlahola. The opening set came down to a tiebreaker but came out in CU's favor 7-6 (5). Alexin followed by controlling the second set, leading 5-2 when the match was clinched.

UP NEXT
Colorado will close out road competition next week in Arizona. The Buffs face No. 39 Arizona on April 3rd and No. 16 Arizona State on April 5^th. Both matchups will begin at Noon (M.T.), with more information and live results found @cubuffstennis.

RESULTS
Doubles

No. 38 Kate Dmitrichenko/Hailey Murphy (TT) def. Lera Alexin/Rixt van der Werff (CU), 7-5
Elena Daskalova/Mariia Hlahola (TT) def. Aya El Sayed/Yukiko Ikedo (CU), 6-3
Ema Bubalo/Anya Nelson (CU) def. Ella Brownback/Polina Sleptsova (TT), 6-4