Colorado Takes Down No. 71 Northern Arizona

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.—The Colorado Buffaloes Tennis team picked up the program's first win over a ranked team this season, downing No. 71 Northern Arizona 4-1 Monday in some touch conditions at the NAU Tennis Center.

The Buffs opened by taking the doubles point and after dropping the first singles match, CU won the next three in singles action to win the match and improve to 9-6 on the season.

How it Happened

Mila Stanojevic and Elys Ventura got the Buffs started early with a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles over Laura Duhl and Pat Niewiadomska.
Antonia Balzert and Aya El Sayed wasted no time clinching the doubles point for the Buffs minutes later at No. 1 doubles with a 6-2 victory over Elinor Beazley and Ana Guadiana.
No. 3 doubles between Colorado's Ellen Puzak and Betina Tokac and Northern Arizona's Ava Neyestani and Daryna Shoshyna was unfinished with a score of 3-4.
Pat Niewiadomska tied things up 1-1 at No. 2 singles with a win 6-3, 6-1 victory over Elys Ventura.
Carri Hayes got her third win of the season 6-3, 6-4 over the Lumberjack's Elinor Beazley at No. 6 singles.
The Buffs extended the lead to 3-1 at No. 3 singles with a 6-3, 6-4 win from Mila Stanojevic over Ava Neyestani.
To close the match in usual fashion Aya El Sayed clinched for the Buffs at No. 4 singles with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Daryna Shoshyna.
No. 1 singles between Antonia Balzert and Ana Guadiana remained unfinished in the second set with a score of 6-4, 4-5.
No. 5 singles between Betina Tokac and Laura Duhl remained unfinished in the third set with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 0-3.

Notes

The victory gives Colorado its first ranked win of the season, and first since No. 49 Arizona in 2022.
With this victory also gives the Buffs their first non-conference ranked win since defeating No. 67 Denver in 2022.
Aya El Sayed has an eight-match winning streak at No. 4 singles.
This was the fifth match of the year clinched by El Sayed.
Head coach Anthony Pham has surpassed his win total of eight from his first season as the head coach at Colorado.

Up Next
The Buffs will travel to Los Angeles for two matches beginning on Friday against No. 30 UCLA at 2:30 p.m. MST. The following day the Buffs will take on No. 38 USC at 1:30 p.m. MST. The Buffs will then travel home for their next home match on April 7 against Washington State at 1:30 p.m. MST.

Quotes
CU Coach Anthony Pham
"I'm very proud of the team's resolve today. We've been a bit unlucky the last couple of weeks with injuries and sickness. The team did a great job of battling today in tough conditions and found a way to get it done. We've got a resilient group who play as one cohesive unit and really care and play for each other. That makes our job as coaches that much more enjoyable. We look forward to another productive couple of days of practice."

Results
Colorado 4, No. 71 Northern Arizona 1
March 27, 2023
Flagstaff, Ariz. (NAU Tennis Center)

Doubles
1.   Antonia Balzert/Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Elinor Beazley/Ana Guadiana (NAU) 6-2
2.   Mila Stanojevic/Elys Ventura (CU) def. Laura Duhl/Pat Niewiadomska (NAU) 6-2
3.   Ellen Puzak/Betina Tokac (CU) vs. Ava Neyestani/Daryna Shoshyna (NAU) 3-4
Order of finish: (2,1)

Singles
1.   Antonia Balzert (CU) vs. Ana Guadiana (NAU) 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
2.   Pat Niewiadomska (NAU) def. Elys Ventura (CU) 6-3, 6-1
3.   Mila Stanojevic (CU) def. Ava Neyestani (NAU) 6-3, 6-4
4.   Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Daryna Shoshyna (NAU) 7-5, 6-4
5.   Betina Tokac (CU) vs. Laura Duhl (NAU) 6-2, 4-6, 0-3, unfinished
6.   Carri Hayes (CU) def. Elinor Beazley (NAU) 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: (2,6,3,4*)

Next Event

Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Antonia Balzert

Aya El Sayed

Carri Hayes

Ellen Puzak

Mila Stanojevic

Betina Tokac

Elys Ventura