Derivan Takes Title In Final Day of Fall

LAS VEGAS – Colorado Buffaloes women's tennis team concluded the fall season Sunday in the final day of the Rebel Invitational on the campus of UNLV, highlighted by freshman Sophia Derivan taking the third flight championship.

Derivan finished out the championship against Utah's Katya Hersh to earn the only eight-person flight championship for the Buffaloes. The first set was the closest with Derivan edging Hersh 7-6, then the freshman commanded the second set 6-4 to take the win.

The championship was the only victory for Colorado in the final day of action after two Buffs withdrew from matches. Megan Forster withdrew from the flight four championship and Maria Campos withdrew after falling in the first set to Kristen Prelle 7-5. The Buffs also suffered a close three-set loss for Tallulah Farrow to Connie Li of UNLV. Farrow took the first set 6-4 then allowed Li to put together consecutive 6-3 sets to take the win.

Also for CU, Antonia Balzert fell to Whitney Hekking of Utah 6-4, 6-3 and Ellie Puzak moved up to the fourth flight but fell to Jasmine Rich of Utah 6-3, 6-1.

In the doubles matches, Campos and Farrow battled in the second flight championships against the Li sisters of UNLV but fell 8-3. Ecton and Derivan had the closest match against a Georgia Tech tandem but fell 8-5 while Balzert and Puzak dropped a set to a Kansas duo 8-4.

Colorado begins its long rest before the new year and the beginning of dual matches with the first coming Jan. 17 against Southern Utah in Fresno, Calif.

RESULTS
REBEL INVITATIONAL
Round One Singles
Flight One                        Kenya Jones (GT) def. Maria Campos (CU) 6-1, 6-2
Flight Two                       Alexa Bortles (MISS) def. Antonia Balzert (CU) 6-4, 6-2
Flight Three                    Katya Hersh (UU) def. Tallulah Farrow (CU) 7-5, 6-2
Flight Three                    Sophia Derivan (CU) def. Nadia Gizdova (GT) 2-6, 7-6, 7-6
Flight Four                       Samantha Li (UNLV) def. Ky Ecton (CU) 6-1, 7-6
Flight Four                       Megan Forster (CU) def. Jasmine Rich (UU) 6-1, 6-1
Flight Five                        Ellie Puzak (CU) def. Sara Alajbegovic (UNLV) 6-2, 6-1

Round Two Singles
Flight One Cons.            Madison Tattini (UU) def. Maria Campos (CU) 6-3, 6-1
Flight Two Cons.           Antonia Balzert (CU) def. Emily Dush (UU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6
Flight Three Semi         Sophia Derivan (CU) def. Anya Lamoreaux (UU) 6-4, 6-4
Flight Three Cons.        Lillian Mould (UO) def. Tallulah Farrow (CU) 6-2, 6-3
Flight Four Semi            Megan Forster (CU) def. Sophia Sassoli (GT) 6-2, 6-2
Flight Four Cons.           Madison McKay (UU) def. Ky Ecton (0-6, 6-2, 6-1)
Flight Five Champ        Ellie Puzak (CU) def. Rachel Lee (UNLV) 6-3, 6-7, 10-8

Round Three Singles
Flight One Cons.            Kristen Prelle (AZ) def. Maria Campos 7-5, retired
Flight Two Cons.           Whitney Hekking (UU) def. Antonia Balzert (CU) 6-4, 6-3
Flight Three Champ     Sophia Derivan (CU) def. Katya Hersh (UU) 7-6, 6-4
Flight Three Cons.        Connie Li (UNLV) def. Tallulah Farrow (CU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Flight Four Champ       Samantha Li (UNLV) def. Megan Forster (CU) by default
Flight Four Cons.           Jasmine Rich (UU) def. Ellie Puzak (CU) 6-3, 6-1

Round One Doubles
Flight One                        Kenya Jones/Victoria Flores (GT) def. Antonia Balzert/Sophia Derivan (COLO) 8-3
Flight Two                       Maria Campos/Tallulah Farrow (COLO) def. Lillian Mould/Myah Petchey (OREG) 8-7
Flight Two                       Ky Ecton/Ellen Puzak (COLO) def. Jasmine Rich/Madison McKay (UU) 8-4

Round Two Doubles
Flight One Cons.            Prelle/Iglupas (UA) def. Balzert/Derivan (CU) 8-2
Flight Two Semi.            Campos/Farrow (CU) def. Sassoli/Gross (GT) 8-4
Flight Two Semi.            Li/Li (UNLV) def. Ecton/Puzak (CU) 8-4

Round Three Doubles
Flight One Cons.            Vasiliki Karvouni/Carmen Manu (KU) def. Antonia Balzert/Ellie Puzak (CU) 8-4
Flight Two Champ        Samantha Li/Connie Li (UNLV) def. Maria Campos/Tallulah Farrow (CU) 8-3
Flight Two Cons.           Sophia Sassoli/Rosie Gross (GT) def. Ky Ecton/Sophia Derivan (CU) 8-5

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Maria Campos

Sophia Derivan

Ky Ecton

Tallulah Farrow

Megan Forster

Ellen Puzak