Buffs Advance to Semifinals In Both Disciplines

LAS VEGAS – The University of Colorado women's tennis put together another extraordinary day in Las Vegas at the ITA Mountain Regional Championships Friday to advance both a doubles team and a single to semifinals.

It took everything and more for the doubles tandem of Monica Malinen and Sara Nayar to advance to the semifinals. The duo took on Emilie Luetschwager and Stelle Cliffe of CSU in the round of 16 and handled them 8-5, then entered a dog fight against a duo from Utah State. Down 7-4, the Buffs faced numerous match points but battled back to steal the set 8-7 and advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2014.

This wasn't the only important action as No.65 Nayar took on Cliffe again from CSU, handling her opponent 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals, the first occurrence for Colorado since Nuria Ormeno Ruiz won it all in 2015.

Malinen also faced a NAU opponent, dropping a two-set loss to Emilie Haakansson in the flight two consolation by a score of 7-6, 6-3. In the same bracket was freshman Sophia Derivan who fell to Hannah Jones of Utah State 6-3, 6-2.

For the rest of the freshmen, Antonia Balzert picked up an easy 6-1, 6-1 win against Yuuna Ukita of Weber State while Maria Campos dropped a match to Alyssa Grijalva of CSU by a score of 6-1, 7-5.

Action continues Saturday with the doubles match semifinals and Nayar's semifinal matches.

RESULTS
DOUBLES
Quarterfinals         #53 Malinen/Nayar (COLO) def. Jones/Lavatai (USU) 8-7

Round of 16           #53 Malinen/Nayar (COLO) def. Luetschwager/Cliffe (CSU) 8-5

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
Quarterfinals         #65 Sara Nayar (COLO) def. Stella Cliffe (CSU) 6-3, 6-2

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

FLIGHT TWO CONSOLATION
Antonia Balzert (COLO) def. Yuuna Ukita (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
Emilie Haakansson (NAU) def. Monica Malinen (COLO) 7-6, 6-3
Hannah Jones (USU) def. Sophia Derivan (COLO) 6-3, 6-2
Alyssa Grijalva (CSU) def. Maria Campos (COLO) 6-1, 7-5

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Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Maria Campos

Sophia Derivan

Monica Malinen

Sara Nayar