Buffs Complete Comeback in Season Opener

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four singles wins fueled the comeback for the Colorado Buffaloes tennis team over Air Force in the season opener 4-3 Friday night at the USAF Tennis Courts.

Colorado (1-0) found themselves down 2-0 to Air Force (0-1) after struggling in doubles, losing the first singles match, and having dropped the first set in two other positions, but that changed after senior Betina Tokac stopped the momentum with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles to close the gap, making the score 2-1.

Directly after Aya El Sayed and Mila Stanojevic battled back to win their second sets to force a third set and swing momentum in the Buff's favor. El Sayed was the first to finish off her opponent winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Stanojevic playing her first career match at No. 1 singles after battling to force the third set but found herself in another tough spot down 2-3 but finished the match winning four straight games to win the match 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 to take the lead 3-2 for the first time all night.

With the lead and the momentum, Pia Rebec was in another battle at No. 5 singles. After taking the first set in a tiebreaker, Rebec was tied at five in the second set with the match on the line and ended the night with two straight games to clinch the set and the match.

"Credit to Air Force for taking it to us in doubles as it's always tough to play here in the Springs," head coach Anthony Pham said. "Proud of the way our team competed and for finding a way to get the job done today. We look forward to getting in a good practice tomorrow and preparing for a good Denver team at home on Sunday."

This marks the third straight season Colorado has started the season 1-0, and nine of the last ten years with the only loss coming in 2021 at the ITA Kickoff.

How It Happened
Doubles did not start the way the Buffs wanted with Air Force jumping out and quickly taking the point starting with Sofia Mavor and Shivaani Selvan at No. 3 doubles beating Lera Alexin and Rebec 6-1.

Shortly after the Falcons clinched with another 6-1 win, this time at No. 1 doubles, Nadia Kojonroj and Arianna Van Houweling clinched the point over Ema Bubalo and Anya Nelson.
El Sayed and Stanojevic were all tied at four games against Maya Michalski and Alexis Odom when the point was clinched.

Air Force already up 1-0 extended their lead with a win at No. 4 singles after Bubalo was forced to end the match early with an injury in the first set while Mavor was up 5-3.
With the match hanging in the balance, Tokac gave the Buffs life with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles over Van Houweling to make the match 2-1.

At No. 2 singles, El Sayed struggled to get her footing in the first set across the court from Kojonroj losing 6-3. In the second and third sets, El Sayed bounced back winning 6-2, 6-3 to tie the overall match at two.

The match of the night came at the top spot from Stanojevic against Odom. The first two sets came down to a few points and deuce opportunities. Early on the ball went Odom's way leading to a 7-5 first-set win, but the second set saw Stanojevic take control at the end of the set claiming a 7-5 victory of her own.

The third set at No. 1 singles started much like the first two back and forth leaving no room for error. Down 3-2, Stanojevic went on to win four straight games to end the match and give the Buffs their first lead of the night.

Alexin in her first dual match took some time to settle in against Giovanna Sanchirico at No. 6 singles. After losing the first set 6-0, Alexin fought in the second set closing the gap before falling 7-5.

With the match tied at three apiece, it all came down to No. 5 singles and Rebec did not disappoint. While most of the spectators might have been focusing on the end of some of the other matches a first-set tiebreaker between Rebec and Selvan changed the outcome of the match. Tied at three in the tiebreaker, Rebec won four consecutive points to take the first set 7-6 (3).

Rebec led for most of the second set going up 5-3 before Selvan took two straight games to tie the match at five. Needing to win by two Rebec did just that claiming the next two games to clinch the match for Colorado.

Up Next
The Buffs make the short trip back to Boulder for their home opener on Sunday against another in-state opponent in Denver. Action will start at 2:00 p.m. at the Meadows Club.

Results
Doubles
Nadia Kojonroj/Arianna Van Houweling (AFA) def. No. 21 Ema Bubalo/Anya Nelson (CU) (6-1)
Aya El Sayed/Mila Stanojevic (CU) vs. Maya Michalski/Alexis Odom (AFA) 4-4, unf.
Sofia Mavor/Shivaani Selvan (AFA) def. Lera ALexin/Pia Rebec (CU) 6-1
Order of Finish: (3,1)

Singles
Mila Stanojevic (CU) def. Alexis Odom (AFA) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Nadia Kojonroj (AFA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Betina Tokac (CU) def. Arianna Van Houweling (AFA) 6-1, 6-3
Sofia Mavor (AFA) def. Ema Bubalo (CU) 5-3, ret.
Pia Rebec (CU) def. Shivaani Selvan (AFA) 7-6 (3), 7-5
Giovanna Sanchirico (AFA) def. Lera Alexin (CU) 6-0, 7-5
Order of Finish: (4,3,2,1,5*,6)

Next Event

Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Lera Alexin

Ema Bubalo

Aya El Sayed

Anya Nelson

Pia Rebec

Mila Stanojevic

Betina Tokac