Colorado
California
Tennis Opens Pac-12 Play With Loss At No. 7 Cal
March 06, 2015 | Tennis
BERKELEY, Calif. – The University of Colorado women's tennis team began its second season, Friday afternoon falling 7-0 to No. 7 California in the conference opener for both schools.
The Buffaloes drop to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in the Pac-12, while the Golden Bears improve to 8-2 and 1-0 in the conference.
It's the second time in the last three matches, the Buffs have come up short on the scoreboard. Cal has won three in a row with its only losses to No. 9 Georgia and No. 11 USC in non-conference matches.
Cal has won all four meetings with CU.
“We knew today's match was going to be tough, we just have to keep believing in ourselves,” CU head coach Nicole Kenneally said. “We'll get some rest tonight and tomorrow we get another shot at a Top 10 team (Stanford).”
CU, nationally ranked for the second straight week at No. 47 nationally have matched the 2007 spring season after 12 matches with a 9-3 mark. That was season the women's program last reached the NCAA Tournament. The Buffs finished 16-8 with a 9-2 Big 12 record.
On Friday against Cal, the Buffs dropped the doubles point for the fourth consecutive week falling at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions by 8-2 and 8-0 scores, respectively. Cal's No. 1 doubles team is ranked No. 4 nationally, the No. 2 team is No. 12.
In singles, the home team defended their home court winning five of six slots in straight straights. Five of Cal's six singles players are also ranked among the ITA from No. 2 through No. 61.
The lone bright spot for the Buffaloes came at No. 1 singles, where freshman Tina Bokhua pushed the nation's No. 2 ranked singles player, Maegan Manasse to three sets. Bokhua won the first set 6-3, however dropped the next two by 6-4, 1-0 (10-5) scores.
The three set loss for Bokhua drops her to 7-3 for the dual season and 11-5 overall.
CU looks to rebound Saturday against No. 10 Stanford at 1 p.m. (MST).
No. 7 California 7, No. 47 Colorado 0
Cal (8-2, 1-0 Pac-12), CU (9-3, 0-1 Pac-12)
March 6
1d) (4) Manasse/Starr (Cal) def. Bokhua/Steur (CU) 8-2
2d) (12) Fabikova/Susanyi (Cal) def. Aiello/Ashley Tiefel (CU) 8-0
3d) Ormeño Ruiz/Wojcik (CU) vs. Lin/Popovic (Cal) 7-3 – did not finish
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
1s) (2) Maegan Manasse (Cal) def. Tina Bokhua (CU) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0(5)
2s) (42) Klara Fabikova (Cal) def. Julyette Steur (CU) 6-0, 7-5
3s) (61) Denise Starr (Cal) def. Nuria Ormeño Ruiz (CU) 6-1, 6-2
4s) (24) Zsofi Susanyi (Cal) def. Alexandra Aiello (CU) 6-1, 6-1
5s) (41) Karla Popovic (Cal) def. Kyra Wojcik (CU) 6-0, 6-1
6s) Stephane Lin (Cal) def. Vita Alkhovik (CU) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 4, 5, *3, 6, 2, 1
