Buffs Ready for Regionals

BOULDER- For the first time this season, the Colorado Buffaloes tennis team will travel as a full team to compete in the ITA Mountain Region Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah October 18-22 with an opportunity to qualify for the ITA Fall National Championships in San Diego November 7-11.

In the first month of the fall season the Buffs have traveled to four different tournaments with four different configurations of athletes to improve and grow as much as possible following a big year of firsts under head coach Anthony Pham.

"It's gonna be good for the team," Pham commented on the team all competing together. "We're lucky with the group we have with good leadership from the upperclassmen. I think the freshman join the group but also bought into what we are about. It'll be fun to get them familiar with how the team operates, their team matches, the travel. All of that together will be a good experience."

While the team is at the same location, playing at the same tournament there will still be some separation with some in the "A Draw" and others in the "B Draw" for singles competition. Those in the "A Draw" are Aya El Sayed, Pia Rebec, Mila Stanojevic, Betina Tokac, and Elys Ventura. They will have the opportunity to qualify for the ITA Fall National Championships with a top two finish. The remaining athletes (Carri Hayes, Anya Nelson, and Ellen Puzak) will compete in the "B Draw".

When it comes time for doubles play Colorado will have both experienced and first-time duo's take the court together. Stanojevic and Ventura will return for a second year together after going 19-12, good for fourth all time in a single season for a double pairing at CU. The other returning partners competing this weekend are Puzak and Tokac. The duo will look to improve on their 12-16 season a year ago, starting this week in Utah.

While two of the three doubles pairings have at least a year together under their belts, El Sayed and Rebec will take the courts for the first time together this week. While they haven't had the time together Pham believes they will complement each other well.

"I think we feel comfortable with what to expect from Ellie (Puzak) and Betina (Toakc) and Mila (Stanojevic) and Elys (Ventura)," Pham said on his doubles pairing. "I think Aya (El Sayed) and Pia (Rebec) can work well together. I think they will complement each other well. Obviously, this is their first time playing together, so there's going to be some things for them to learn about each other on the court. But I think there's three really good doubles teams we're putting out there this week. The two teams that have been playing together, they've gotten better too, so we look forward to seeing that."

Through the early portion of the season the team has faced players and teams from all across the country and have continued to improve, this week is no different. There will be 20 different school from across the ITA Mountain Region brining payers with different playing styles to get the team ready and give them a measuring stick on what they still need to improve.

"Every opportunity is a chance to get better," Pham said on the competition this week. "I think for everyone that competed the first time, whether that was in San Diego, San Francisco, or Fort Collins I think we have gotten better. They all feel like we are making improvements whether that's in singles or doubles. There's a lot more comfort with the product we are putting on the court."

Action will begin Wednesday in Salt Lake City at the George S. Eccles Tennis Center and run through Sunday.

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Players Mentioned

Aya El Sayed

Carri Hayes

Anya Nelson

Ellen Puzak

Pia Rebec

Mila Stanojevic

Betina Tokac

Elys Ventura