Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Land First Postseason In 16 Years With Inaugural NIT Bid
May 04, 2023 | Tennis
PALO ALTO, Calif. – The University of Colorado is one of eight college tennis teams that has accepted a
bid to the inaugural Universal Tennis National Invitational Championship (NIT), which will take place in
the Peachtree City, Georgia May 17-20.
All matches for both men and women will be streamed by Amazon Prime and available to regular Prime subscribers at no additional cost. Information on Colorado's draw in the tournament will be announced next week.
This is the Buffs first postseason appearance in 16 years and ninth appearance beyond a conference
tournament in program history, with two AIAW appearances in 1980 and '81, and six NCAA Tournament
appearances in 1996, '97, '98, '99, 2003 and '07.
Colorado enters the NIT with a 12-12 overall record and No. 63 national ranking. CU's 12 wins are the
most for the program in 15 seasons and CU was ranked in five ITA polls this season, the most in nine
seasons and achieved a best rank of No. 52, the highest since March 10, 2015.
The Buffs win over Oregon in Ojai, Calif., was the program's first Pac-12 Tournament victory since
entering the Pac-12 in 2011 and it was the first conference tournament win in 13 seasons.
The Buffs are led by senior Antonia Balzert, who has played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with Aya El
Sayed all season. Balzert is 17-15 overall this season and 10-10 at No. 1 singles, including picking up
three wins in Pac-12 play at the top spot.
El Sayed played primarily at the No. 4 singles spot and finished with a 14-1 dual match record, the top
percentage in CU history and was 5-0 in Pac-12 play, just the third undefeated conference season in
program history and first since 1999.
Missouri transfer Elys Ventura has been playing No. 2 singles most of the season with sophomore's Mila
Stanojevic (No. 3) and Betina Tokac (No. 5) being regulars in the lineup alongside freshman Carri Hayes
at No. 6. Senior Ellie Puzak has teamed with Tokac at No. 3 doubles while Stanojevic and Ventura have
primarily played No. 2 doubles all season.
Universal Tennis announced the tournament in March as proof of furthering support of college tennis by
the organization, which generates millions in revenue for college programs each year and has streamed
over 20,000 matches featuring more than 1,300 college players globally.
The announcement of the NIT Championship follows the launch of the Universal Tennis
Collegiate Alliance ("UTCA"), which was created to support the future of all college programs in
the United States. The UTCA Executive Committee voted unanimously to support the launch of
the NIT Championship.
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bid to the inaugural Universal Tennis National Invitational Championship (NIT), which will take place in
the Peachtree City, Georgia May 17-20.
All matches for both men and women will be streamed by Amazon Prime and available to regular Prime subscribers at no additional cost. Information on Colorado's draw in the tournament will be announced next week.
This is the Buffs first postseason appearance in 16 years and ninth appearance beyond a conference
tournament in program history, with two AIAW appearances in 1980 and '81, and six NCAA Tournament
appearances in 1996, '97, '98, '99, 2003 and '07.
Colorado enters the NIT with a 12-12 overall record and No. 63 national ranking. CU's 12 wins are the
most for the program in 15 seasons and CU was ranked in five ITA polls this season, the most in nine
seasons and achieved a best rank of No. 52, the highest since March 10, 2015.
The Buffs win over Oregon in Ojai, Calif., was the program's first Pac-12 Tournament victory since
entering the Pac-12 in 2011 and it was the first conference tournament win in 13 seasons.
The Buffs are led by senior Antonia Balzert, who has played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with Aya El
Sayed all season. Balzert is 17-15 overall this season and 10-10 at No. 1 singles, including picking up
three wins in Pac-12 play at the top spot.
El Sayed played primarily at the No. 4 singles spot and finished with a 14-1 dual match record, the top
percentage in CU history and was 5-0 in Pac-12 play, just the third undefeated conference season in
program history and first since 1999.
Missouri transfer Elys Ventura has been playing No. 2 singles most of the season with sophomore's Mila
Stanojevic (No. 3) and Betina Tokac (No. 5) being regulars in the lineup alongside freshman Carri Hayes
at No. 6. Senior Ellie Puzak has teamed with Tokac at No. 3 doubles while Stanojevic and Ventura have
primarily played No. 2 doubles all season.
Universal Tennis announced the tournament in March as proof of furthering support of college tennis by
the organization, which generates millions in revenue for college programs each year and has streamed
over 20,000 matches featuring more than 1,300 college players globally.
The announcement of the NIT Championship follows the launch of the Universal Tennis
Collegiate Alliance ("UTCA"), which was created to support the future of all college programs in
the United States. The UTCA Executive Committee voted unanimously to support the launch of
the NIT Championship.
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