Colorado
Denver
NO. 44 CU EDGED BY NO. 75 DU, 4-3
January 25, 2004 | Tennis
The Buffs, ranked No. 44 nationally in the ITA preseason rankings, lost to the Pioneers for the first time in 16 years, but they still hold a commanding lead in the all-time series at 25-3.
“I think this will be an exciting year. We will grow and learn from this match,” CU coach Nicole Kennneally. “That team (DU) is going to have a good year. For us to go that close with them is a good thing, and we were not that far from losing.”
Denver, ranked No. 75, opened their season yesterday defeating Sun Belt conference opponent New Orleans, 7-0. DU has a trio of players ranked among the ITA's preseason rankings: No. 60 Suzanna Maksovic, No. 80 Yannick Dullens, and the doubles team of Maksovic/Dullens are ranked 48th.
Colorado returns seven letterwinneers from last year's team that finished the season at No. 39, with a 14-9 record. The Buffaloes added three newcomers to their roster, and two opened their collegiate careers with wins in singles.
Freshman Lynzee Kever captured a big win for the Buffs at the No. 2 singles spot, defeating No. 60 Maksovic 6-3, 6-2. Freshman Martina Sedivec battled Stephanie Ginsburg for the No. 6 singles point 6-4, 7-5.
The other point for Colorado came from sophomore Jessica Vanderdys. She moved from the No. 5 to the No. 3 single's spot and found success against Jenny Trettin 7-6, 6-2.
Junior Kendra Strandemo, the Big 12 Champion at No. 4 singles last year, stepped up to play at the No. 1 singles spot against Dullens, ranked No. 80 in the nation. Strandemo put in a valiant effort but fell to Dullens, 7-5, 6-3.
Colorado begins their season with six of their first eight matches at home, but they will not open Big 12 Conference play until they host Texas Tech, Feb.14.
Next week the Buffs will be on the road for a 6:00 p.m. (MST) match on Saturday, against Oregon.
No. 75 Denver 4, No. 44 Colorado 3
Singles
1) Yannick Dullens (DU) def. Kendra Strandemo, 7-5, 6-3
2) Lynzee Kever (CU) def. Suzanna Maksovic, 6-3, 6-2
3) Jessica Vanderdys (CU) def. Jenny Trettin, 7-6, 6-2
4) Barbara Kourim (DU) def, Morgan Sall, 6-4, 6-3
5) Rachel Sackmaster (DU) def. Jenny Hanson, 6-4, 6-3
6) Martina Sedivec (CU) def. Stephanie Ginsburg, 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1) Masovic/Dullens (DU) def. Strandemo/Sall (CU) def. 8-3
2) Kourim/Trettin (DU) def. Vanderdys/Kever, 8-6
3) Hanson/Sedivec (CU) def. Ginsburg/Sackmaster, 8-6
