Campos Shines In CU Debut

HOUSTON – The University of Colorado women's tennis team competed in two tournament this weekend at the Rice Fall Invitational and Jon Messick Invitational at CSU, led by freshman Maria Campos tournament victory debut.

Campos took the title in the fifth flight at the Rice Fall Invitational after surviving a pair of three-set matches to reach the championship round. Campos began with a 7-5, 4-6, 10-3 win over Azul Pedemonti of the University of Houston, then secured a tight 10-7 pro set victory against Maria Budin of Rice after winning the first set 6-3 and dropping the second 6-4.

In the final match, Campos took the first set against Aida Garcia Mendez of UTA 6-4, then closed out a close second set with a 7-6(5) win to seal the flight win.

Two other Buffs found wins in the opening round of the tournament as Antonia Balzert picked up her first win for CU against Alex Mjos of USF. She won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, but dropped the next round in straight sets against Camille Townsend of AMCC 6-4, 7-5 in the fourth flight. In the same flight as Campos, Tallulah Farrow won her first round match against Laura Cabrera of UTSA 7-5, 6-1, but lost to Garcia Mendez 6-4, 6-2.

After a pair of losses for No.65 Nayar and Malinen in the first and second flights, respectfully, Nayar found redemption in an extra match against Budin 6-2, 6-4. Nayar fell to No. 96 Victoria Smirnova of Rice in the opening round of the first flight 6-2, 6-4, then had to go against No. 55 Tatum Rice of Arkansas and lost in consecutive 6-2 sets. Malinen had a similar path with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Anna Bowtell of Rice, then a 6-1, 6-0 loss to Isabella Harvison of Alabama.

Both Balzert and Farrow also found extra match victories with Balzert defeating Ansari of Auburb 7-6(3), 6-2 and Farrow defeating Fuchs of Texas State 7-6(5), 6-0.

In doubles, No. 53 Nayar and Malinen lost to No. 39 Niezgoda and Smirnova of Rice 6-4. Smirnova switched teams to join El Jardi against Balzert and Farrow to defeat them 6-2, followed by a close 7-6 (5) loss to Pou/Garcia of Alabama. In extra matches, Nayar and Malinen defeated Yayali/Melendez of USF without letting up a point, 6-0.

Closer to home, Ky Ecton and Ellen Puzak competed in Fort Collins. Both dropped a pair of singles matches in the first and second rounds. Ecton fell to Emily Luetschwager of CSU 7-6(6), 6-2. Puzak lost to Chloe Gavino of New Mexico State 6-1, 7-5. In the second round, Stella Cliffe of CSU defeated Ecton 6-2, 6-1. Lucija Josipovic of New Mexico State defeated Puzak after the Buff took the first set 6-4 but dropped the next two 6-4.

RICE RESULTS

SINGLES
Flight 1 Quarterfinal                                        #96 Victoria Smirnova (RICE) def. #65 Sara Nayar (COLO) 6-2, 6-4
Flight 1 Cons. Semifinal                                  #55 Tatum Rice (ARK) def. #65 Sara Nayar (COLO) 6-2, 6-2

Flight 2 Quarterfinal                                        Anna Bowtell (RICE) def. Monica Malinen (COLO) 6-2, 6-4
Flight 2 Cons. Semifinal                                  Isabella Harvison (ALA) def. Monica Malinen (COLO) 6-1, 6-0

Flight 4 Quarterfinal                                        Antonia Balzert (COLO) def. Alex Mjos (USF) 6-4, 6-2
Flight 4 Semifinal                                              Camille Townsend (AMCC) def. Antonia Balzert (COLO) 6-4, 7-5

Flight 5 Quarterfinal                                        Maria Campos (COLO) def. Azul Pedemonti (UH) 7-5, 4-6, 10-3
Flight 5 Semifinal                                              Maria Campos (COLO) def. Maria Budin (RICE) 6-3, 4-6, 10-7
Flight 5 Final                                                       Maria Campos (COLO) def. Aida Garcia Mendez (UTA) 6-4, 7-6 (5)

Flight 5 Quarterfinal                                        Tallulah Farrow (COLO) def. Laura Cabrera (UTSA) 7-5, 6-1
Flight 5 Semifinal                                              Aida Garcia Mendez (UTA) def. Tallulah Farrow (COLO) 6-4, 6-2

Extra matches                                                    Sara Nayar (COLO) def. Budin (RICE) 6-2, 6-4
                                                                                 Antonia Balzert (COLO) def. Ansari (AUB) 7-6 (3), 6-2
                                                                                 Tallulah Farrow (COLO) def. Fuchs (TSU) 7-6 (5), 6-0

DOUBLES
Flight 1 Quarterfinal                                        #39 Niezgoda/Smirnova (RICE) def. #53 Nayar/Malinen (COLO) 6-4

Flight 2 Quarterfinal                                        El Jardi/Smirnova (RICE) def. Balzert/Farrow (COLO) 6-2
Flight 2 Cons. Semifinal Balzert/Campos (COLO) def. Pau/Garcia (ALA) 7-6 (5)

Extra matches                                                    #53 Nayar/Malinen (COLO) def. Yayali/Melendez (USF) 6-0

CSU RESULTS

SINGLES
Round 1                                                         Emily Luetschwager (CSU) def. Ky Ecton (CU), 7-6 (6), 6-2
                                                                        Chloe Gavino (NMS) def. Ellen Puzak (CU), 6-1, 7-5
Round 2                                                         Stella Cliffe (CSU) def. Ky Ecton (CU), 6-2, 6-1
                                                                        Lucija Josipovic (NMS) def. Ellen Puzak (CU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Round 3                                                         Priscilla Palermo (CSU) def. Ky Ecton (CU), 6-1, 6-0
                                                                        Riley Reeves (CSU) def. Ellen Puzak (CU), 6-0, 6-2

DOUBLES
Round 1                                                         Gavi Kalaga/Neus Torregrosa (NMS) def. Ellen Puzak/Ky Ecton (CU), 6-3
Round 3                                                         Emily Luetschwager/Stella Cliffe (CSU) def. Ellen Puzak/Ky Ecton (CU), 6-3

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Maria Campos

Ky Ecton

Tallulah Farrow

Monica Malinen

Sara Nayar

Ellen Puzak