Colorado University Athletics
Friday, January 30
Boulder, CO
6 p.m.
Colorado
vs
Miami (Ohio)
Colorado Completes Third Straight Win at Home
January 30, 2026 | Tennis
The Buffs improve to 3-0 with a 6-1 win over RedHawks
BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes tennis team finish January competition with another dominant win, downing Miami Ohio 6-1, Friday night at the Meadows Club.
"Did we play our best? No, but that think a lot had to do with Miami," head coach Anthony Pham said. "They got a lot of credit to them. They played very well and pushed us in a lot of the courts. That will pay dividends, it's only going to help."
The Buffs began the night with a quick doubles victory, finding wins at the top two spots. Pia Rebec and Aya El Sayed picked up the first win at No. 2, followed by Anya Nelson and Ema Bubalo who recorded their 34th win as a duo. The pairs victory put them at the fifth most doubles career wins in CU history.
"They definitely put us in some uncomfortable situations and moments on a lot of courts," Pham said. "And that's going to continue to happen throughout the season, especially when we get into Big 12 play."
Singles competition came with a hard fight for the Buffs, who found wins on all but one court.
Rebec and Lera Alexin notched the first victories at No. 3 and 4 in straight sets. Rixt van der Werff found the third singles win at the top spot, coming back from a dropped second set to find a dominant third, downing her RedHawk opponent, and clinching the match for the Buffs.
Brotman followed, despite falling in a first set tiebreaker. The freshman fought hard to a perfect second set, and topped it off with a final win in the third. The night ended at No. 6 with Nelson, sealing the deal in two close sets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The night opened with a quick win from Rebec and El Sayed over Komar and Chavez. In their first match together since February of 2025, the pair picked up a 6-1 win to put the Buffs at an early advantage.
"It's been almost a year since I played with Aya, it was amazing," said Rebec. "She was amazing. The atmosphere was very good. It's always good to see everyone happy and enjoying what they do."
To finish out doubles competition, Nelson and Bubalo recorded their historic win over Oliveira and Faulkner, 6-2, extending their record to 34-15.
To begin singles, Rebec recorded a straight set victory over Evelyn Risner, downing the RedHawk 6-2, 6-1, bringing the Buffs to a 2-0 lead.
"I felt a bit uncomfortable during the match, but I listened to my coach," Rebec said. "He told me to just stay focused, put the balls in, and stay strong. And that's exactly what I did, and it got me through the match."
Alexin kept Colorado on top at 3-0 with her straight set win at No. 4. Following a close 7-5 first set, Alexin notched 14 straight games to finish out the second set on top, downing Avery Voss, 6-2.
To bring the Buffs up 4-0, Van der Werff found a battle at the top spot against Maria Luisa Oliveira. With van der Werff taking the first set 6-2, Oliveira responded with a 6-3 second set to equal the playing field. Van der Werff came back to finish on a high note, recording another 6-2 finish in the third, taking the match.
The RedHawks found a victory in the fourth match of the night at the No. 2 spot against Ema Bubalo. Following a 6-4 first set from the Buff, Allie Faulkner took a 6-0 second set, and a final 6-4 third, bringing the score to 4-1.
Brotman brought it back on No. 5 to take the Buffs to 5-1. In her first set against Nina Chavez, the freshman fell just short of the tiebreaker, 7-6. Brotman quickly bounced back, recording a perfect 6-0 second set, and a 6-3 third to take her victory.
Ending the night on No. 6, Nelson found a finish on top to bring the Buffs to their 6-1 victory. Nelson kept a close lead throughout the first to bring it to 5-5, then pulling away with a 7-5 finish. In the second, the senior kept a two-point lead, eventually finding a 6-3 victory over Maria Komar.
"Every time we play Denver, I feel like it's a battle,'' said Pham. "We'll rest up, get a good day of practice tomorrow and just be ready to battle Sunday."
UP NEXT
Colorado will begin its February competition on Sunday with a matchup against the Denver Pioneers. The match will begin at 4 p.m. (MT) at the Denver Tennis Park.
RESULTS
Doubles
Singles
NOTES
"Did we play our best? No, but that think a lot had to do with Miami," head coach Anthony Pham said. "They got a lot of credit to them. They played very well and pushed us in a lot of the courts. That will pay dividends, it's only going to help."
The Buffs began the night with a quick doubles victory, finding wins at the top two spots. Pia Rebec and Aya El Sayed picked up the first win at No. 2, followed by Anya Nelson and Ema Bubalo who recorded their 34th win as a duo. The pairs victory put them at the fifth most doubles career wins in CU history.
"They definitely put us in some uncomfortable situations and moments on a lot of courts," Pham said. "And that's going to continue to happen throughout the season, especially when we get into Big 12 play."
Singles competition came with a hard fight for the Buffs, who found wins on all but one court.
Rebec and Lera Alexin notched the first victories at No. 3 and 4 in straight sets. Rixt van der Werff found the third singles win at the top spot, coming back from a dropped second set to find a dominant third, downing her RedHawk opponent, and clinching the match for the Buffs.
Brotman followed, despite falling in a first set tiebreaker. The freshman fought hard to a perfect second set, and topped it off with a final win in the third. The night ended at No. 6 with Nelson, sealing the deal in two close sets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The night opened with a quick win from Rebec and El Sayed over Komar and Chavez. In their first match together since February of 2025, the pair picked up a 6-1 win to put the Buffs at an early advantage.
"It's been almost a year since I played with Aya, it was amazing," said Rebec. "She was amazing. The atmosphere was very good. It's always good to see everyone happy and enjoying what they do."
To finish out doubles competition, Nelson and Bubalo recorded their historic win over Oliveira and Faulkner, 6-2, extending their record to 34-15.
To begin singles, Rebec recorded a straight set victory over Evelyn Risner, downing the RedHawk 6-2, 6-1, bringing the Buffs to a 2-0 lead.
"I felt a bit uncomfortable during the match, but I listened to my coach," Rebec said. "He told me to just stay focused, put the balls in, and stay strong. And that's exactly what I did, and it got me through the match."
Alexin kept Colorado on top at 3-0 with her straight set win at No. 4. Following a close 7-5 first set, Alexin notched 14 straight games to finish out the second set on top, downing Avery Voss, 6-2.
To bring the Buffs up 4-0, Van der Werff found a battle at the top spot against Maria Luisa Oliveira. With van der Werff taking the first set 6-2, Oliveira responded with a 6-3 second set to equal the playing field. Van der Werff came back to finish on a high note, recording another 6-2 finish in the third, taking the match.
The RedHawks found a victory in the fourth match of the night at the No. 2 spot against Ema Bubalo. Following a 6-4 first set from the Buff, Allie Faulkner took a 6-0 second set, and a final 6-4 third, bringing the score to 4-1.
Brotman brought it back on No. 5 to take the Buffs to 5-1. In her first set against Nina Chavez, the freshman fell just short of the tiebreaker, 7-6. Brotman quickly bounced back, recording a perfect 6-0 second set, and a 6-3 third to take her victory.
Ending the night on No. 6, Nelson found a finish on top to bring the Buffs to their 6-1 victory. Nelson kept a close lead throughout the first to bring it to 5-5, then pulling away with a 7-5 finish. In the second, the senior kept a two-point lead, eventually finding a 6-3 victory over Maria Komar.
"Every time we play Denver, I feel like it's a battle,'' said Pham. "We'll rest up, get a good day of practice tomorrow and just be ready to battle Sunday."
UP NEXT
Colorado will begin its February competition on Sunday with a matchup against the Denver Pioneers. The match will begin at 4 p.m. (MT) at the Denver Tennis Park.
RESULTS
Doubles
- Nelson/Bubalo (CU) def. Oliveira/Faulkner (MO), 6-2
- Rebec/El Sayed (CU) def. Komar/Chavez (MO), 6-1
- Alexin/van der Werff (CU) vs Risner/Voss (MO), 5-3
Singles
- Rixt Van der Werff (CU) def. Maria Luisa Oliveira (MO), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
- Allie Faulkner (MO) def. Ema Bubalo (CU), 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
- Pia Rebec (CU) def. Evelyn Risner (MO), 6-2, 6-1
- Lera Alexin (CU) def. Avery Voss (MO), 7-5, 6-2
- Lani Brotman (CU) def. Nina Marcela Chavez Vicente (MO), 7-6 (5), 6-0, 6-3
- Anya Nelson (CU) def. Maria Komar (MO), 7-5, 6-3
NOTES
- This marks the first matchup against Miami Ohio for the Buffs, completing with a win.
- Duo Anya Nelson and Ema Bubalo record their 34th win as a duo, giving them the fifth highest doubles career wins record in CU history.
- Rebec and El Sayed mark their return as a duo with their 20th career victory as a pair.
- van der Werff records her fourth-straight singles win since her last loss on October 25, 2025.
- Rebec and Alexin now hold 4-0 career records at their respective singles position, with Rebec at No. 3 and Alexin at No. 4.
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Mark Johnson sits down with Tennis Head Coach Anthony Pham to talk about the 2026 Spring Season
Friday, January 16
Women's Tennis: Senior Day | Apr 13, 2025
Sunday, April 13
@cubuffstennis vs Arizona State SENIOR DAY #gobuffs
Monday, April 15
@cubuffstennis vs Arizona #gobuffs
Saturday, April 13