Tennis Downs Dons, 4-3, To Improve To 3-1

BOULDER, Colo. – The Colorado Buffaloes Women's Tennis team improved to 3-1 in the spring season, defeating the San Francisco Dons 4-3 Saturday here at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center.

After starting strong clinching the doubles point, the Buffs dropped their first two singles matches putting the score at 2-1 in favor of the Dons. CU then took control of the match winning the next three singles matches to clinch the match for the Buffaloes and improve to 3-1 for the first time since 2020-21.

How It Happened

The Buffs got the first win of the day at No. 3 doubles with Ellen Puzak and Betina Tokac defeating Chiho Mushika and Qianer Qiu 6-1.
Shortly after the Buffs clinched the doubles point at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3 victory by Antonia Balzert and Aya El Sayed over Simran Chhabra and Maria Martinez Vaquero.
At No. 2 doubles Mila Stanojevic and Elys Ventura were up 5-3 over Arianna Capogrosso and Rita Colyer when the doubles point was clinched leaving the match unfinished.
San Francisco took the first singles point with a victory at No. 2 singles by Chiho Mushika over Elys Ventura 7-5, 7-6 (2).
The Dons took the following singles point with a 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles from Simran Chhabra over Mila Stanojevic.
The Buffs got back on track at No. 1 singles with Antonia Balzert coming back after losing the first set in tiebreaker to defeat Maria Martinez Vaquero 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2.
Betina Tokac took the lead back for the Buffs at No. 5 singles with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Hana Gamracy.
The Buffs continued winning and clinched the match at No. 4 singles with a win 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory by Aya El Sayed over Caragh Courtney.
In the final match of the day at No. 6 singles Arianna Capogrosso defeated Carri Hayes 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Notes

The Buffs open the season 3-1 for the first time since 2020-21
Antonia Balzert played Maria Martinez Vaquero for the second time this season, exacting revenge after losing the first time 5-7, 6-3, 1-6.
At No. 3 doubles Ellen Puzak and Betina Tokac start the season 4-0 and as the only doubles duo on the team undefeated so far this year.
The all-time record against San Francisco is 2-2.
The Buffs get their first win against San Francisco since 2007.
Buffs start 2-0 at home for the first time since 2020-21.

Up Next
The Buffs travel to Spokane Washington for two matches on February 11 against Gonzaga and Eastern Washington. Action starts at 9:00 a.m. MST against Gonzaga, with Eastern Washington to follow at 1:30 p.m. MST.

Quotes

CU Coach Anthony Pham

"I'm happy to pull through that match, it was a battle. Hat's off to San Francisco, they really pushed us today. I thought we handled things better today than in previous matches. There's still a lot of things that we have to do a better job of. We're making things more difficult than it needs to. We will address what we could do better, and be ready for Gonzaga next weekend."

"We played some good doubles. That's good to see that trend continue. Singles we started fast but then San Francisco started to battle back, but I'm proud of our team for hanging in there. I though they all did a good job getting through matches today."

"It'll be our first true road trip. We played Air force and Denver, but those were day trips. Making sure we address some of the things that we saw today do a better job in practice this week."

Antonia Balzert

"I thought as a team we really started off great. We got the doubles point and we were all really aggressive at the net and just tried to do our thing. With singles, I started off pretty good, but I had a lot of set points in the first set and didn't take advantage of them which made me a little nervous. But I bounced back and got the second and third sets. I just tried to do my thing and be aggressive."

"I had to let go of last Sunday, because I definitely didn't play my best there. Playing Maria Martinez Vaquero today, I played her in the fall and I lost against to her in three sets in a really close match. I was really trying to do the right things. I know how she plays and I knew that I'm more of the aggressor on the court and that I have to play fearless to win."

"Aya El Sayed played great today. She clinched the point and played through some tough things, it was great to see."

Results
Colorado 4, San Francisco 3
February 4, 2023
Boulder, Colo. (Rocky Mountain Tennis Center)

Doubles

Antonia Balzert/Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Simran Chhabra/ Maria Martinez Vaquero (SF) 6-3
Mila Stanojevic/Elys Ventura (CU) vs. Arianna Capogrosso/Rita Colyer (SF) 5-3 unfinished
Ellen Puzak/Betina Tokac (CU) def. Chiho Mushika/Qianer Qiu (SF) 6-1

Order of Finish: (3,1, u)

Singles

Antonia Balzert (CU) def. Maria Martinez Vaquero (SF) 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2
Chiho Mushika (SF) def. Elys Ventura (CU) 7-5, 7-6 (2)
Simran Chhabra (SF) def. Mila Stanojevic (CU) 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3
Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Caragh Courtney (SF) 7-6 (5), 6-1
Betina Tokac (CU) def. Hana Gamracy (SF) 6-1, 6-2
Arianna Capogrosso (SF) def. Carri Hayes (CU) 7-6 (6), 6-4

Order of Finish: (2, 3, 1, 5, 4, 6)

Next Event

Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Aya El Sayed

Carri Hayes

Ellen Puzak

Mila Stanojevic

Betina Tokac

Elys Ventura