Tennis Drops Match to Cal

BOULDER – The University of Colorado women's tennis team fell behind early and couldn't recover as the Buffaloes fell to No. 8 California, 6-1, here Friday afternoon at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center.

CU fell to 9-7 overall and 1-4 in Pac-12 Conference play, while the Golden Bears improved to 10-3 (4-1 Pac-12). Cal used a quick win the secure the doubles point to get up early on the Buffs.

WHAT HAPPENED
Annabelle Andrinopoulos fought a hard match in the No. 3 singles spot but could not hold off Cal's Denise Starr as she dropped her match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Louise Ronaldson pushed the nation's No. 7 ranked singles player, Karla Popovic in two strong sets but fell 6-4, 6-3. Ronaldson battled an impressive Popovic who now owns a 30-3 singles record.

Nuria Ormeño Ruiz had one of the toughest matchups on the day as she faced No. 45 ranked Maegan Manasse of Cal. The matchup was back and forth the whole time as Ormeño won the first set 7-5, but dropped the second 5-7. Ormeño pushed one of the best singles players in the country to a third set where they kept it even most of the way. Ormeño took it to four all until Manasse took control and went up to win the third set 6-4.

Cal's nationally-ranked players took control of the match to go up 4-0 and solidify the match win for the Bears. Kyra Wojcik and Chloe Hule both dropped their matches as well but the shining light for the Buffs was Brigitte Beck.

Beck took home the only win for the Buffs beating Cal's Stephanie Lin in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

UP NEXT
CU looks to rebound Sunday against Stanford. The match with either be played at 11:00 am MT outside at CU South campus or at 10:00 am MT at Meadows Tennis Club.

QUOTABLE (CU Head Coach Nicole Kenneally)
"It is always disappointing to lose. But, we have been talking a lot about competing and putting yourself in a position to either make your opponent earn the win, or put yourself in a position to go and win it. Today, we played the No. 8 team in the country and other than their No. 1 doubles [which they are nationally ranked] we were in every single match. We are highly competitive in every other position. We may have a couple where we relaxed and let go a little bit in the end, but the more we do this, the closer we are getting to where we want to be."

"Everyone always tries. It is harder to compete at your highest. And right now, we are competing. And that is a fantastic feeling and I know they feel good about it too."

"All I can do is take positives away from today. We fought hard. We competed. We hustled and tried to create opportunities and that is what we need to do, especially in the Pac-12."

Twitter: @CUBuffsTennis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cubuffstennis/

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No. 8/14 California vs. Colorado
March 31, 2017
SINGLES
1. Maegan Manasse (CAL) def. Nuria Ormeño Ruiz (CU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
2. Karla Popovic (CAL) def. Louise Ronaldson (CU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Denise Starr (CAL) def. Annabelle Andrinopoulos (CU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Olivia Hauger (CAL) def. Kyra Wojcik (CU) 6-4, 4-6, (7)
5. Maria Smith (CAL) def. Chloe Hule (CU) 7-6, 6-3
6. Brigitte Beck (CU) def. Stephanie Lin (CAL) 6-3, 6-4

DOUBLES
1. Manasse/Starr (CAL) def. Ronaldson/Hule (CU) 6-1
2. Hauger/Popovic (CAL) def. Ormeño Ruiz (CU) 6-4
3. Lin/Nelson (CAL) vs. Andrinopoulos/Beck (CU) DNF
Order of Finish: 1,2*

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Annabelle Andrinopoulos

Brigitte Beck

Chloe Hule

Nuria Ormeño Ruiz

Louise Ronaldson

Kyra Wojcik