Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Day Three
Three Buffs Win In Final Day Of CU Invitational
September 29, 2013 | Tennis
BOULDER – Three Buffaloes claimed victories in the final day of the CU Invitational at the University of Colorado South Campus Tennis Courts.
Nuria Ormeno Ruiz shined in her debut weekend with the Buffs. After falling in the first round of the Gold Draw, she won back-to-back matches on Saturday and Sunday to claim the consolation title. Ormeno Ruiz breezed past Denver's Mandy van den Eerenbeemt 6-0, 6-3.
Fellow newcomer Alex Aiello (a sophomore transfer from Syracuse) also looked to impress on Sunday. Though faltering in her second set against Denver's Evy Van Genechten, Aiello dominated the first and third, claiming third place in the Silver Draw with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory.
“Fantastic,” CU head coach Nicole Kenneally said of the newcomer performances. “Any time we can get those guys on the board, it's only going to increase their level of comfort. It was good.”
Senior Mattison Sperry also claimed a straight set victory for the Buffs, taking down Denver's Natalie Dunn 6-3, 6-1 in the Silver Draw.
Though Winde Janssens battled back from a one set deficit, she fell 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to SMU's Dasha Sharapova.
“I think for a lot of players it's about making sure mentally, emotionally and energy wise they're in the right place,” Kenneally said. “They need to keep learning about mental toughness and what they're made of. In Pac-12 tennis, you've got to be mentally tough from the first point to the last point. That's where a lot of our focus is.”
Both Ashley Tiefel and Carla Manzi Tenorio fought against Pioneers, but fell in straight sets. Tiefel fell in a tough Silver Draw Championship game to Charlotte Derbyshire, while Sonja Radosevic overpowered Manzi Tenorio.
“First tournament out, you kind of get to see where everyone's at,” Kenneally said. “We saw some definite upside and what we need to work on. That's the beauty of having a tournament in 10 days, now we can work on those things before the tournament. I'm happy, but not satisfied.”
Next up for the Buffs is the ITA Mountain Regional in Las Vegas. The tournament begins on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Colorado Invitational
CU South Campus Courts
Sunday, Sept. 29
Gold Singles
Main Draw Semi-finals
Kimberley-Ann Surin (Arkansas) def. Maureen Slattery (Denver) 5-6 (4-7), 6-5 (7-4), 6-0
Kathryn Hughes (Denver) def. Macie Elliott (SMU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
Consolation Final
Nuria Ormeno Ruiz (CU) def. Mandy van den Eerenbeemt (Denver) 6-0, 6-3
Other matches
Sonja Radosevic (Denver) def. Carla Manzi Tenorio (CU) 6-1, 6-1
Dasha Sharapova (SMU) def. Winde Janssens (CU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Silver Singles
Main Draw Championship
Charlotte Derbyshire (Denver) def. Ashley Tiefel (CU) 6-4, 6-3
Main Draw 3rd Place Game
Alex Aiello (CU) def. Evy Van Genechten (Denver) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Other Matches
Mattison Sperry (CU) def. Natalie Dunn (Denver) 6-3, 6-1
Flavia Araujo (Arkansas) def. Michelle Garpenlov (Denver) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
