Colorado Opens Season With Sweep of Montana State

BOULDER – Despite a pair of new faces that came to the program last week, the University of Colorado women's tennis team opened the spring season with a 7-0 sweep of Montana State Friday morning at the Air Force Academy.

Six Buffaloes earned their first wins in dual competition for Colorado, including head coach Danielle Steinberg.

"I was very pleased with today," said Steinberg. "We have five new girls on the roster that it was their first match for CU and I didn't see as many first-match gitters as I expected so that was great. The energy was great, the attitude was great from the first point in doubles and honestly I didn't expect that. I thought we were going to be a little nervous. That was one of our main focuses this year, to have good attitude and energy and control the things we can control. Tennis started a little slow in the singles but as soon as we got loose it was where we wanted to be. I am happy for Belle to get a win at number one, a tight win at the end, I think we got a lot of confidence from today."

The match opened up with a doubles win from Annabelle Andrinopoulos and Monica Malinen against Laura Mary and Linda Vink. The upperclassmen made quick work for the doubles win with a 6-3 finish. The following two teams were made up of new freshmen, starting with Sara Nayar and Ky Ecton. The duo fell to a pair from MSU 4-6, leaving the point up to Tallulah Farrow and Megan Forster. They came back and finished off the Bobcats with a 6-3 finish to pick up the doubles point.

"I think we put them in a tough position," said Steinberg when asked about her new freshmen. "We have two new girls that just showed up about a week ago and we just shuffled the teams. That is the first time they have all played together, but we have been working on some basic stuff throughout the season that makes it so it doesn't really matter who you play with. For the new girls that was their first time playing doubles it was great to see. The most important thing was their attitude and effort and that was phenomenal today."

Following the doubles, action started with Nayar and Malinen picking up wins in straight sets in the third and fourth spot, respectfully. Nayar only gave up a single point with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Linnea Fristam, then Malinen followed suite with a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Vink.

With those two matches away and the dual at a 3-0 lead, CU needed just a single win to put away the Cats. They found that win from Forster who won 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 against Walker in the second position.

The next match to conclude was a sweep from Farrow against Zander by way of a 6-1, 6-3 decision. Ecton concluded the freshmen debut with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Cheverie in the sixth position, leaving only Andrinopoulos in the number one position.

Andrinopoulos opened the first set with a 6-4 win, but the match was pulled even when Walker won the second set 4-6. The final set needed five break points to go in favor of Andrinopoulos, 7-6 (5).

"Air Force is a tough team and they are very high-energy and loud," said Steinberg about tomorrow's match. "We know what we are going up against. It gives all the confidence knowing we can be the better team it just depends on how we show up and control what we can control."

The Buffaloes return to action at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow against the Air Force Academy. Colorado returns home next week with the first home dual in the Steinberg era against New Mexico.

RESULTS:
Doubles:
1. Andrinopoulos/Malinen (CU) def. Mary/Vink (MSU), 6-3
2. Fristam/Walker (MSU) def. Nayar/Ecton (CU), 6-4
3. Farrow/Forster (CU) def. Cheverie/Zander (MSU), 6-3

Singles:
1. Andrinopoulos (CU) def. Mary (MSU); 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5)
2. Forster (CU) def. Walker (MSU); 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Nayar (CU) def. Fristam (MSU); 6-1, 6-0
4. Malinen (CU) def. Vink (MSU); 6-0, 6-2
5. Farrow (CU) def. Zander (MSU); 6-1, 6-3
6. Ecton (CU) def. Cheverie (MSU); 6-3, 6-2

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Annabelle Andrinopoulos

Ky Ecton

Tallulah Farrow

Megan Forster

Monica Malinen

Sara Nayar