Buffs Bounce Back Over UNLV

STANFORD, Calif. – The Colorado Buffaloes Tennis team bounced back after its first loss of the season to earn the win 4-2 over UNLV at the Taube Family Tennis Center at Stanford in the second and final day of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. This marks the first ITA Kickoff win in program history.

Playing the last of three road matches in California to open the season, the Buffs (2-1) came out and just like they have done the first two matches captured the doubles point extending their unbeaten streak to seven doubles matches to open the season and giving CU a 1-0 lead over UNLV (0-2).

Doubles action would not come without its drama. After taking the first match easily, Mila Stanojevic and Elys Ventura the duo at No. 2 found themselves down 3-0 early in the match. After taking a breath the pair rattled off six straight games to clinch the doubles point and give Colorado the early 1-0 lead over the Rebels.

As the match transitioned to singles play, the Buffs saw the return of junior Betina Tokac who missed the match against Stanford due to injury, and she did not waste time making her presence felt. Tokac would extend the lead for the Buffs to 2-0 with a straight set win at No. 4.

The Rebels would close the gap with a win at No. 2 singles to bring the match to 2-1, before Stanojevic extended the lead back to 3-1 with a win at No. 3 singles.

UNLV got their second win of the day at No. 5 singles to once again inch closer, but seconds later sophomore Carri Hayes slammed the door shut clinching the match at No. 6 singles.

"Really proud of our team today and the fight they brought," head coach Anthony Pham said on the win. "It's gratifying for our coaching staff to see the growth that is taking place. We thought we took a step forward yesterday (against Stanford) and we continued to make progress today. We've got lots of room for growth and the exciting thing is we have a group who is willing to do the work. We look forward to a good week of preparation to get ready for next weekend."

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a tough match at No. 1 doubles against Stanford the duo of Aya El Sayed and Pia Rebec have continued their hot streak, but today they left no doubt. The duo cruised to a 6-0 win over Kovacs and Vinahrad to set the tone early.
The fireworks came from Stanojevic and Ventura at the No. 2 spot. The pair came back from a 3-0 deficit to Hu and Zhao, to clinch the doubles point with a 6-3 victory.
In their second match together Ema Bubalo and Anya Nelson were left with their match unfinished with Aher and Fang after clinching the doubles point.
In her first match back Tokac dominated Hanna Vinahrad 6-1, 6-0 to earn her second win of the season.
The Rebels would win their first match on court two with Aher defeating Ventura 6-3, 6-4.
After a narrow 7-5 first set win over Hu, Stanojevic would fall in the second set 6-1, setting up a third set tiebreaker. With the score in the third set tied at two games apiece, Stanojevic would win four of the last five games to extend the lead to 3-1 for Colorado.
Despite only being down more than a game once in the match, Rebec could not get over the hump against Zhao falling 7-5, 7-6 (7).
Seconds after UNLV tightened the score Hayes finished the day clinching the match with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Fang.
El Sayed was closing in on another win at No. 1 singles over Kovacs, when the match was clinched. The score finished at 7-5, 3-6, 2-1 unf.

NOTES

Colorado moves to 2-0 all-time against UNLV.
Aya El Sayed has increased her overall match win streak to 11 matches.
Colorado has won all seven completed doubles matches.

UP NEXT
The Buffs will continue on the road, but this time closer to home with two matches up in Wyoming beginning with UNC Greensboro on February 3.

RESULTS
Colorado 4, UNLV, 2
January 27, 2024
Stanford, Calif. (Taube Family Tennis Center)

Doubles
1.   El Sayed/Rebec (CU) def. Kovacs/Vinahrad (UNLV) 6-0
2.   Stanojevic/Ventura (CU) def. Hu/Zhao (UNLV) 6-3
3.   Bubalo/Nelson (CU) vs. Aher/Fang (UNLV) 2-5 unf.
Order of Finish: (1,2*)

Singles
1.   Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 7-5, 3-6, 2-1 unf.
2.   Salsa Aher (UNLV) def, Elys Ventura (CU) 6-3, 6-4
3.   Mila Stanojevic (CU) def. Cindy Hu (UNLV) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
4.   Betina Tokac (CU) def. Hanna Vinahrad (UNLV) 6-1, 6-0
5.   Coco Zhao (UNLV) vs. Pia Rebec (CU) 7-5, 7-6 (7)
6.   Carri Hayes (CU) def. Aura Fang (UNLV) 7-5, 6-4
Order of Finish: (4, 2, 3, 5, 6*)

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Players Mentioned

Ema Bubalo

Aya El Sayed

Carri Hayes

Anya Nelson

Pia Rebec

Mila Stanojevic

Betina Tokac

Elys Ventura