Colorado Pushes Air Force to Brink in Loss

USAFA, Colo. – The University of Colorado women's tennis program pushed Air Force to the edge in a 4-3 loss Saturday at the Air Force Academy.

The match came down to a break-point decision in the final singles competition with freshman Tallulah Farrow competing with Ashleigh Harvey in the fifth position. With the team scores tied 3-3, Farrow dropped the first set 6-1 but rallied back to take the second set 6-4. The third set found Farrow battling to a 5-4 points lead before dropping the next two. The freshman battled to 40-40 in the final game to push the match to 6-6 and force a break-point decision. Once again Farrow was behind early with the score 2-0 in favor of Harvey. Farrow took the next three points but ultimately fell in five.

The day started as it ended, close. Doubles competition began with the Air Force first team doubles that is ranked in the top-100 taking down Annabelle Andrinopoulos and Monica Malinen by the score of 6-3. Ky Ecton and Sara Nayar tied it up with a 6-3 victory in the second position, leaving just the remaining third position match to decide the point. Megan Forster and Farrow came back from behind to tie the match at 5-5, but ultimately dropped the doubles match 7-5.

Heading into singles play the Buffs picked up two quick points with Malinen winning 6-0, 6-2 to kick things off. Nayar was next with a closer first set, 7-6(2), but handled the second set 6-2.

Air Force picked up wins in the first and sixth position with Andrinopoulos dropping her match 6-3, 6-4. Ecton also fell in her sixth spot, 6-0, 6-4, closing the gap of the small CU lead.

Forster picked up a crucial win in the second position by the score of 7-5, 6-4 to push the result to balance on the outcome of the fifth position match.

"I am very proud of the team's fight today," said head coach Danielle Steinberg. "We played very hard against a well coached, veteran Air Force team. This is a great experience for our five newcomers and I know it will make us much tougher down the road."

Colorado has a short turn around before hosting the University of New Mexico on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

RESULTS: (in order of finish)
Doubles:
2. Nayar/Ecton def. Jones/Harvey 6-3
1. Fumagalli/Kerrigan def. Andrinopoulos/Malinen 6-3
3. Barnickel/Lieberman def. Forster/Farrow 7-5

Singles:
4. Malinen def. Kerrigan 6-0, 6-3
3. Nayar def. Jones 7-6(2), 6-2
1. Fumagalli def. Andrinopoulos 6-2, 6-4
2. Forster def. Barnickel 7-5, 6-4
6. Lieberman def. Ecton 6-0, 6-4
5. Harvey def. Farrow 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5)

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Annabelle Andrinopoulos

Ky Ecton

Tallulah Farrow

Megan Forster

Monica Malinen

Sara Nayar