Colorado Win Gives Best Start Since 1997

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – An early start didn't stop the Colorado Buffaloes tennis team from handling business Sunday morning with a 4-0 win over IUPUI at the West Indy Racquet Club. The win gives the Buffs the best start to a season since 1997.

In the final day of a three-match road trip to Indiana Colorado (9-1) had to regroup after a doubleheader yesterday against Indiana and Ball State to take on a depleted IUPUI (3-4) with only five active players.

Due to the shortened roster only two doubles matches were played, as well as only five singles matches. Colorado began the match with a 1-0 lead needing only one match to clinch the doubles point.

Mila Stanojevic and Elys Ventura claimed the lone doubles victory, playing their first match of the season at the No. 1 spot.

At the start of singles, needing only two wins to clinch the match it was the two freshmen Ema Bubalo and Pia Rebec who got the job done. For Bubalo she earned her first career singles win in her first career singles match. Rebec added another win under her belt, clinching the match for the Buffs.

Just getting started ??#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/a3F6WHR4D0
— Colorado Buffaloes Tennis (@CUBuffsTennis) February 18, 2024

"Proud of the growth that our team continues to display day to day and match to match," head coach Anthony Pham said on the match. "There are plenty of opportunities ahead for us and we look forward to doing the work necessary to ensure we are fully prepared to capitalize on them."

Since the loss to then No. 2 Stanford at the ITA Kickoff, Colorado has won eight straight matches the most since 1999, including six matches away from Boulder the most since 1995.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With only two doubles matches being played Stanojevic and Ventura moved up to No. 1 singles to take on IUPUI's Bailey and Dell. Much like their whole career, they did what needed to be done clinching the doubles point with a 6-2 win.
In the only other doubles match Buablo and Nelson were one game away from clinching over Kotre and Orlando at the No. 2 spot when the doubles point was clinched, leaving the match unfinished.
Entering singles with a 2-0 lead, Bubalo quickly added to it with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Sofia Castillo at No. 5 singles. This was the first singles match of Bubalo's career after only playing doubles thus far.
To close out the weekend, Rebec had the same score only flipped against Gabbie Orlando ending 6-0, 6-1 to clinch the match for the Buffs.
Abyasova, Tokac, and Ventura all had their matches left unfinished after winning the first set. Tokac was one game away from clinching at no. 2 singles.

NOTES

With the 9-1 start, this marks the best record to begin a season since 1997.
Colorado is currently on an eight-match winning streak the longest since 1999.
Within the winning streak Colorado has won six straight matches away from Boulder, the most since 1995.
Ema Bubalo won her first career singles match.
Mila Stanojevic and Elys Ventura won their 27th doubles match as a pairing.
Stanojevic won her 45th individual doubles match moving her up to tied for 33rd all-time.

UP NEXT
The Buffs will return home to Colorado for two matches next week beginning with Northern Arizona on February 23 at the Meadows Club for the lone night match of the season. Following the match the Buffs will make a short trip up to Fort Collins to take on in-state rival Colorado State on February 25 at Noon.

RESULTS
Colorado 4, IUPUI 0
February 18, 2024
Indianapolis, Indiana (West Indy Racquet Club)

Doubles
1. Stanojevic/Ventura (CU) def. Bailey/Dell (IUPUI) 6-2
2. Bubalo/Nelson (CU) vs. Kotre/Orlando (IUPUI) 5-3, unf.
3. Open
Order of Finish: (3,1*)

Singles
1. Elys Ventura (CU) vs. Chloe Bailey (IUPUI) 6-1, 2-4, unf.
2. Betina Tokac (CU) vs. Elle Kotre (IUPUI) 6-1, 3-2, unf.
3. Alexandra Abyasova (CU) vs. Emma Dell (IUPUI) 6-0, 5-2, unf.
4. Pia Rebec (CU) def. Gabbie Orlando (IUPUI) 6-0, 6-1
5. Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Sofia Castillo (IUPUI) 6-1, 6-0
6. Open
Order of Finish: (6,5,4*)

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Players Mentioned

Alexandra Abyasova

Ema Bubalo

Pia Rebec

Mila Stanojevic

Betina Tokac