Nayar Through To Quarterfinals At ITA Mountain Regionals

LAS VEGAS – Star sophomore Sara Nayar will represent Colorado tennis Friday in the quarterfinals of the ITA Mountain Regional Championships after winning a pair of matches Thursday in Las Vegas.

Nayar got things started after falling in the first set against Adriana Sosnowska in the round of 32 by a score of 6-2. The sophomore rebounded and put on the pressure with a quick 6-1 second set victory. She sealed the win with a 6-2 third set win. Nayar followed up that performance with a dominating 6-2, 6-2 victory against Lindsay Hung of Utah to punch her ticket to the quarterfinals.

Monica Malinen also picked up a round of 32 win after dropping the first set. She battled in a close 7-5 first set loss to Vanessa Valdez of UTEP, then responded with the same score win in the second. She took the third set by a score of 6-3 to advance to the round of 16 where she fell in a 6-4, 6-4 match to an Bronte Murgett from New Mexico.

Colorado's three freshmen competed in close matches Thursday but couldn't advance past the round of 32. Maria Campos suffered her first loss of the season against Madeline Lamoreaux of Utah after dropping a close first set of 7-5. She rebounded to win the second set by the same score but couldn't finish it off in the third set with a 6-3 loss. Sophia Derivan picked up a first set win against Courtney Swift of Air Force 6-4 but fell in consecutive sets 6-4, 6-1. Antonia Balzert had a pair of close 6-4 sets against Emilie Haakansson of Northern Arizona.

In doubles play, No.53-ranked Nayar and Malinen defeated the duo from Idaho State with ease, advancing to the round of 16 after an 8-2 victory. The freshmen tandem of Balzert and Campos battled hard against Utah State's pair but fell 8-6.

Friday will see Nayar continue in the singles championship along with a doubles match in the round of 16 with Malinen. The rest of the Buffs will all participate in extra singles matches.

RESULTS
DOUBLES
Round of 32           #53 Malinen/Nayar (COLO) def. Coburn/Fenske (ISU) 8-2
Round of 32           Lombera/Millan (USU) def. Balzert/Campos (COLO) 8-6

Round of 64           Balzert/Campos (COLO) def. Sachica/Daniels (UTEP) 8-0
Round of 64           #53 Malinen/Nayar, BYE (Number 1 seed)

SINGLES
Round of 16           #65 Sara Nayar (COLO) def. Lindsay Hung (UTAH) 6-2, 6-2
Round of 16           Bronte Murgett (UNM) def. Monica Malinen (COLO) 6-4, 6-4

Round of 32           #65 Sara Nayar (COLO) def. Adriana Sosnowska (NAU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
Round of 32           Monica Malinen (COLO) def. Vanessa Valdez (UTEP) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Round of 32           Emilie Haakansson (NAU) def. Antonia Balzert (COLO) 6-4, 6-4
Round of 32           Madeline Lamoreaux (UTAH) def. Maria Campos (COLO) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
Round of 32           Courtney Swift (AFA) def. Sophia Derivan (COLO) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1

Round of 64           #65 Sara Nayar (COLO) def. Nadeen Lieberman (AFA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
Round of 64           Monica Malinen (COLO) def. Emily Luetschwager (CSU)6-4, 6-3
Round of 64           Antonia Balzert (COLO) def. Erandi Martinez (UTEP) 6-3, 6-1
Round of 64           Maria Campos (COLO) def. Kate Cusick (BYU) 6-2, 7-6(3)
Round of 64           Sophia Derivan (COLO) def. Sanna Chhabra (UNC) 6-2, 6-0

Nayar Through To Quarterfinals At ITA Mountain Regionals

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Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Maria Campos

Sophia Derivan

Monica Malinen

Sara Nayar