Colorado
Nevada
No. 68 Colorado Blanks Nevada, 5-0
February 21, 2015 | Tennis
BOULDER - The No. 68 University of Colorado women's tennis team played its first match as a nationally ranked team on Saturday, beating the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, 5-0 at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center.
The win improves Colorado's record to 7-1, its best start to a season since 1997 when the Buffaloes won their first 10 matches of the season. The victory keeps CU unbeaten at home (3-0) and drops Nevada's record to 3-5.
“We talked about earning the ranking, and it's fantastic that we did,” Colorado's head coach Nicole Kenneally said. “But we have to go out and back that up. Today was the beginning of backing that ranking up. We fought hard today against a team we knew would be a tough match. We know that we've got a tough match tomorrow and we will be ready for it.”
For the first time this season, Colorado started its match with the singles competition, leaving the doubles for the end in case of the need for a tiebreaker, a tiebreaker that the Buffaloes wouldn't need.
Playing for the first time in the No.1 slot, the always cool under pressure senior Julyette Steur defeated 124th ranked sophomore Shelia Morales 7-6(7-3), 6-4. The match wasn't an easy win for Steur, as Morales proved why she was ranked forcing a tiebreaker in the first set.
“I feel comfortable playing tie breakers, it just makes me focus more,” Steur would say afterwards. “Pressure situations, I feel, are something that helps me more than my opponents. During that tiebreaker I just looked at my teammates and it focused me and helped me be ready to close out that first set.”
The win moved Steur's spring record to 8-0 (14-2 for the year). It was her 57th career singles win and 105th career win (48 doubles), which is good enough to move her into 21st place on the all-time wins list.
Playing in the No. 2 spot for the first time this season was junior Alex Aiello. She defeated senior Julliette Legrendre. After rallying from a set down for a 6-7(3-7), 7-5, 6-3 win. It was the fifth career victory rallying from a set down in her CU career, in addition improving her spring record to 6-1. Aiello has also won three straight.
On the next court over, another three set marathon took place in the No. 3 spot with sophomore Nuria Ormeño Ruiz, playing in her first three set match this season, defeating senior Sheila Smiley 6-3, 6-7(5-7), 6-2. The match seemed to tire out Smiley, as Ormeño Ruiz cruised to a 6-2 winner in the third set and finished the match off with an ace. The win moved Ormeño Ruiz's spring record to 7-1.
Colorado clinched the match at No. 6 as freshmen Erin Strachan made her collegiate debut defeating fellow freshmen Sara Korzeniecki in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Strachan overpowered Korzeniecki on the way to her first ever collegiate win and her first ever clinching point won.
“Erin's first match, a win and clinching point was huge for us,” Kenneally said. “She did great and it's an experience that no one will ever be able to take from her.”
Wrapping up the scoring was sophomore Vitaliya Alkhovik defeating freshman Elissa Pavelea, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5. The win improved Alkhovik's spring record to 2-3.
The Buffaloes return to action Sunday as they host Big 12 rival, the No. 75 ranked Kansas Jayhawks at 12 p.m. This will be the Buffaloes fourth match this season against a ranked opponent with CU winning already winning twice.
No. 68 Colorado 5, Nevada 0
CU (7-1, 0-0 Pac-12), Nevada (3-5, 0-1 MN)
Feb. 21, Millennium Hotel Harvest House, Boulder, Colo.
1s) Julyette Steur (CU) def. Sheila Morales (NEV) 7-6(4), 6-4
2s) Alex Aiello (CU) def. Julliette Legrendre (NEV) 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-3
3s) Nuria Ormeño Ruiz (CU) def. Sheila Smiley (NEV) 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2
4s) Kyra Wojcik (CU) vs. Blaga Delic (NEV) 4-6, 6-2, 1-3 DNF
5s) Vitaliya Alkhovik (CU) def. Elissa Pavelea (NEV) 6-2, 7-5
6s) Erin Strachan (CU) def. Sara Korzeniecki (NEV) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 6*, 5
1d) Aiello/Ashely Tiefel (CU) vs. Sheila Morales/Blaga Delic (NEV) DNP
2d) Steur/Alkhovik (CU) vs. Julliette Legrendre/Sheila Smiley (NEV) DNP
3d) Ormeño Ruiz/Kyra Wojcik (CU) vs. Sara Korzeniecki/Elissa Pavelea (NEV) DNP
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Players Mentioned
