Colorado
UCLA
Buffs Battle But Fall To No. 20 UCLA
April 02, 2016 | Tennis
BOULDER – After a long four-match road trip the University of Colorado women's tennis team finally returned home to Boulder, only to drop their match 6-1 against another tough Pac-12 opponent the No. 20 UCLA Bruins, on Friday afternoon at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center.
The loss drops CU's record on the season to 6-12 (1-6 Pac-12), and UCLA's victory improves its record to 12-4 (4-1 Pac-12).
“UCLA is a traditional powerhouse in the Pac-12,” said CU head coach Nicole Kenneally. “And today I really felt like we had some opportunities that we kind of let slip by us. We continue to put ourselves in great opportunities, and in those moments, we need to continue to play out games and make our competitors earn it from us, while we know we have to earn it from them.”
Doubles started off tough for the Buffs as they dropped the point without winning a match and started the singles competition behind 1-0.
Playing the number two doubles for CU were freshman Annabelle Andrinopoulos and sophomore Kyra Wojcik as they dropped their match 1-6 to the UCLA team of senior Kyle McPhillips and sophomore Terri Fleming.
And in the number three spot the CU tandem of senior Alex Aiello and freshman Brigitte Beck lost their match against UCLA's pairing of sophomore Maia Magill and freshman Alaina Miller 2-6.
CU hasn't won a doubles point against a Pac-12 opponent this season.
Colorado looked to make up the ground in the singles play, but was unable to do so.
Starting off in the number one spot was a matchup between nationally ranked No. 47 junior Nuria Ormeño Ruiz as she took on UCLA's nationally ranked No. 18 Catherine Harrison. Harrison lived up to her top-20 ranking in the nation as she handled a resilient Ormeño Ruiz in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.
The next match to finish was in the number three spot, where CU's Andrinopoulos dropped her match to UCLA's Fleming in a tough straight sets 6-4, 6-1. Andrinopoulos did have the match tied three all in the first set before dropping the next three of four games to lose the set.
UCLA clinched the match in the number two spot as McPhillips would outlast CU sophomore Jeannez Daniel in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. After dropping the first set Daniel dug in and forced McPhillips to push things to the limit.
Midway through the second set Daniel and McPhillips began to trade leads starting at three all. Daniel again tied things up at five all after facing the brink of losing. And it took McPhillips really digging in for the last two games in order for her to put Daniel away.
Next up to finish was the match in the number four spot. CU's Aiello dropped a tough match against UCLA's Miller 6-7 (2-7), 2-6. Aiello held a 5-1 lead midway through the first set but was unable to put the young Bruin away and allowed Miller to fight back and force a tiebreaker that Aiello would lose. The second set wasn't as close as Aiello dropped the match.
A bright spot for the Buffs occurred at the number five spot in the form of Wojcik's first career Pac-12 win. She took the match from UCLA sophomore Kristin Wiley 6-2, 2-6, (10-3). It also was her first win since she beat Boise State's Nancy Menjivar in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 on Jan. 31.
“The win was something that we've been challenging Kyra on for the last month,” said Kenneally. “And she's come close, upping her level of game, and her level of competiveness. That's something that we need. To be playing in the Pac-12 you can't just show up and expect to win. Today she was really focused, and I was happy with how she came out and competed today getting the win.”
Wojcik handled the first set easily never looking back after it was tied two all. The second set didn't go as well as the first set as it went the complete opposite way as the first set once the score was tied at two all.
The match then went into a third set tiebreaker and Wojcik took the match by the horns.
“Going into that tiebreaker I just didn't want to give her any points at all and I wanted to stay aggressive,” said Wojcik. “Win or lose, going into that third set tiebreaker, I was going to stay aggressive and play my game. And the rest just took care of itself.”
Wojcik never even gave Wiley a chance in the tiebreaker as she took a commanding 6-0 lead at the start of the tiebreaker. She then handled her business never letting Wiley get anywhere near the lead for the great win.
“It feels really good and I've been working hard in practice every day, so it was only a matter of time before I got my confidence up and got that win,” said Wojcik. “It is bittersweet since we lost as a team, but I am glad that I got over the hump.”
The final match to finish was in the number six slot, as UCLA senior Laura Luca beat CU's Beck in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Beck didn't go away quietly making it a match in the second set tying things at three all. But Luca gave no ground in the set, and took the final three points and the match.
The Buffs return to the courts on Sunday as they welcome the No. 27 USC Trojans to Boulder. The match is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start if it takes place at the South Campus Tennis Center, if the match is indoors at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center it will begin at 10 a.m. Check up on twitter, @CUBuffstennis, for updates on Sunday's match.
No. 20 UCLA 6, Colorado 1
Rocky Mountain Tennis Center (Boulder, Colo.)
Singles
1.) No. 18 Catherine Harrison (UCLA) def. No.47 Nuria Ormeño Ruiz (CU) 6-0, 6-1
2.) Kyle McPhillips (UCLA) def. Jeannez Daniel (CU) 6-2, 7-5
3.) Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. Annabelle Andrinopoulos (CU) 6-4, 6-1
4.) Alaina Miller (UCLA) def. Alex Aiello (CU) 7-6(5), 6-2
5.) Kyra Wojcik (CU) def. Kristin Wiley (UCLA) 6-2, 2-6, (7)
6.) Laura Luca (UCLA) def. Brigitte Beck (CU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2*, 4, 5, 6
Doubles
1.) Nuria Ormeño Ruiz/ Jeannez Daniel (CU) v. Catherine Harrison/ Kristin Wiley (UCLA) 3-3 DNF
2.) Kyle McPhillips/ Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. Annabelle Andrinopoulos/ Kyra Wojcik (CU) 6-1
3.) Maia Magill/ Alaina Miller (UCLA) def. Alex Aiello/ Brigitte Beck (CU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3*
Players Mentioned
