Colorado
Third Round
Steur/Wojcik Advance To ITA Semifinal
October 17, 2014 | Tennis
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For the first time since the 2009 fall season, the University of Colorado women's tennis team will be represented on the fourth day of the USTA/ITA Mountain Regional as senior Julyette Steur and freshman Kyra Wojcik reached the semifinal round with a pair of victories Friday at the University of New Mexico.
Steur and Wojcik, seeded No. 11 in the Round of 64 draw, and playing for the first time with one another this week, defeated Wyoming seniors Christina Gecheva and Jessica Parizher, 8-6 in the Round of 16 Friday morning. During the mid-day session, the CU duo defeated Sheila Morales and Clarisse Treand of Nevada, 8-5 in the quarterfinal round.
It's the third straight win for the CU pair as they advance to Saturday's semifinal round against the No. 9 seed from Utah, Sarah Richter and Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa. Steur/Wojcik will be playing a Utah tandem, who have been playing together for two years and are 8-4 dating back to last season.
The other side of the bracket is top seed BYU against another team from Utah, the No. 4 seed. The semifinals will take place Saturday morning.
The last time a CU pair advanced this far in the regional doubles was 2009 when Camila Belassi and Melisa Esposito won three matches en route to the semifinal round where they fell to a BYU pair (BYU withdrew from the final because of the No Sunday Play Rule).
It was a busy day for Steur, who also played in the Round of 16 singles main draw. Seeded No. 2, the senior from Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, lost a tough three set decision to Emily Olivier of New Mexico, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2. It was Steur's second straight appearance at the ITA regional Round 16 (Las Vegas last year).
Junior Alexandra Aiello also lost a heartbreaker in her Round of 16 match on Friday afternoon, dropping a 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(3) decision to No. 8 seed Dorottya Jonas of Wyoming.
In the consolation singles Round of 64, senior Ashley Tiefel rebounded after suffering an opening day setback, defeated Matilda Tench of Texas-El Paso, 6-1, 6-3. Tiefel advanced to the Round of 32 falling in three sets to BYU's Katie Fitt, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0.
In extra match singles play, Wojcik won her third match in four attempts this weekend rallying from a set down to edge Nicolette Tran of BYU, 1-6, 6-4, 1-0. It was Wojcik's first career match rallying from a set down to achieve victory.
“I'm really happy will how hard we continue to compete through the weekend,” head coach Nicole Kenneally said. “Saturday's semifinal will be a tough match against Utah with the two-out-three set format. We'll review some things, make some adjustments and keep working on getting better.
“In singles, Ashley played great in her matches; Kyra did a great job in her match, and Julyette and Alex gave solid performances. It's disappointing not to get both or one of them to the quarters, but they played tough. We'll continue to work on our games and get ready for the spring season. Overall, we still have more tennis to be play; we had a solid three days against good competition and we'll forward to the semifinal in doubles Saturday.”
Of the final 16 women that played in the Round of 16, the Buffaloes had the third most from one school participating with a pair.
CU is one of 20 schools competing at the regional tournament over the five-day event. On the line for the CU doubles team Saturday morning is an opportunity to play for a regional title on Sunday, where the Mountain Region Champion receives an automatic berth into the 2014 USTA/ITA National Indoor Champions, Nov. 8-10 in Flushing, N.Y.
2014 USATA/ITA Mountain Regional Championships
Albuquerque, N.M./University of New Mexico
Friday, Oct. 17
Round of 16: Doubles
(11) Julyette Steur/Kyra Wojcik (CU) def. Christina Gecheva/Jessica Parizher (Wyoming) 8-6
Quarterfinals: Doubles
(11) Julyette Steur/Kyra Wojcik (CU) def. Sheila Morales/Clarisse Treand (Nevada) 8-5
Semifinals: Doubles
(11) Julyette Steur/Kyra Wojcik (CU) vs. (9) Sarah Richter/Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa (Utah)
Round of 16: Singles
(8) Dorottya Jonas (Wyoming) def. Alexandra Aiello (CU) 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(3)
Emily Olivier (New Mexico) def. (2) Julyette Steur (CU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2
Round of 64: Consolation Singles
Ashley Tiefel (CU) def. Matilda Tench (Texas-El Paso) 6-1, 6-3
Round of 32: Consolation Singles
Katie Fitt (BYU) def. Ashley Tiefel (CU) 6-3, 1-6, 1-0
Extra Singles Match
Kyra Wojcik (CU) def. Nicolette Tran (BYU) 1-6, 6-4, 1-0
