Buffs Finish Best Day Ever At Pac-12 Championships

OJAI, Calif. - For the first time in Colorado tennis history, two players advanced to the second round of the Pac-12 Championships on Thursday in Ojai, Calif.

"As time progresses, our competitiveness increases," head coach Nicole Kenneally said. "We had our opportunities today in several matches. As we continue to gain more experience, learn more about ourselves, those deuce points are going to start turning our way. It was a good first day."

Alex Aiello defeated Southern California's Paige Keating 6-2, 6-2 in the Round of 32 in the Invitational Draw. Kyra Wojcik also won her first-round match 6-4, 6-4 over Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa from Utah.

Both players fell in the Round of 16 in hard-fought battles. Wojcik lost to USC's Gabby Smith 7-5, 6-2.

"I thought Kyra really battled well against Smith," Kenneally said. "She was down 5-2 in the first set and it was a really gallivanting effort to get back into it."

Aiello lost 6-1, 6-0 to California's Karla Popovic.

Nuria Ormeño Ruiz nearly pulled off a huge upset in the Championship Draw. She drew Stanford's Taylor Davidson in the Round of 32, the 40th-ranked player in the nation. Ormeño Ruiz held on to win the first set 7-6 (8) after leading 5-2. She then dropped the second set, also in a tiebreaker, before falling 6-2 in the third set.

Annabelle Andrinopoulos and Jeannez Daniel also suffered losses in the Championship Draw.

Unfortunately, freshman Brigitte Beck had to pull out of competition before her first match due to a hand injury suffered last night at the team's housing.

"It was a real bummer in regards Brigitte and her accident," Kenneally said. "She wanted to play and attempted to [warm up], but the more she hit, the more pain she was in. I think it was a wise decision. That's unfortunate, but we've still got plenty of matches to play tomorrow. We've also got a lot of other great matches to watch and learn."

Doubles play will begin Friday morning with Daniel and Ormeño Ruiz competing in the Championship Draw. The open with the 22nd-ranked doubles pair in the country in Arizona State's Alexandra Osborne and Emily Panoho.

Due to Beck's injury, Andrinopoulos and Aiello will pair together for the first time this season in the Invitational Draw in doubles.

Players that lost a match in the first round today will also play a consolation match tomorrow afternoon. Those matchups are yet to be determined.

Championship Draw - Round of 32
No. 40 (No.5 seed) Taylor Davidson (Stanford) def. No. 120 Nuria Ormeño Ruiz (CU) 6-7 (8), 7-6 (3), 6-2
Trang Huynh (Washington State) def. Annabelle Andrinopoulos (CU) 6-3, 6-2
Margo Pletcher (Utah) def. Jeannez Daniel (CU) 6-4, 6-2

Invitational Draw - Round of 32
Kyra Wojcik (CU) def. Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa (Utah) 6-4, 6-4
Alex Aiello (CU) def. Paige Keating (USC) 6-2, 6-2

Invitational Draw - Round of 16
Gabby Smith (USC) def. Kyra Wojcik (CU) 7-5, 6-2
Karla Popovic (California) def. Alex Aiello (CU) 6-1, 6-0

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Players Mentioned

Alex Aiello

Annabelle Andrinopoulos

Brigitte Beck

Jeannez Daniel

Kyra Wojcik