Colorado University Athletics
Sunday, February 1
Denver, CO
4 p.m.
Colorado
2
at
4
University of Denver
Colorado Battles But Falls To Denver
February 01, 2026 | Tennis
The Buffs take their first loss of the season against the Pioneers, 4-2.
DENVER – The Colorado Buffaloes tennis team took its first loss of the season in a close, hard-fought match against the Denver Pioneers, 4-2, Sunday night at the Denver Tennis Park.
"These matches, you hate to drop them, but early in the year, we must learn and grow from it. Denver is a good team. We knew it was going to be a battle. It's just handling those tight moments a bit better and making sure we're not the first ones to blink."
The Buffs started the day off with a win in what was a closely contended doubles match-up. After a close loss at the top spot, Colorado rallied back for two victories to take the first point leading into singles.
Singles was a close finish coming down to the last two courts. Colorado found one victory at the No. 3 spot from Ema Bubalo but fell short in four courts to give the Pioneers the win. After doing down 3-2, the Buffs were in the third set in the final two singles matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles started off with a loss at the top spot, with Ema Bubalo and Anya Nelson falling short against Novak and Lambert, 6-2.
Pia Rebec and Aya El Sayed picked it up at No. 2, finding a 6-2 victory over Cai and Wikander to even the playing field.
In a back-and-forth at No. 3, Lera Alexin and Rixt van der Werff brought the score to 5-5, keeping it close against Adkins and Cinkova. The pair managed to pick up two games, taking the 7-5 win and giving Colorado the doubles point.
Singles competition began with a tough battle at the top spot for El Sayed's return to the singles lineup. El Sayed faced No. 77 Louise Wikander, and fell short in a 6-2, 6-4, straight set to tie it up, 1-1.
Bubalo followed at No. 3 to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. The junior faced Adkins, taking the Pioneer down in matching 6-4 sets.
The Pioneers found their 3-2 lead at No. 4 and 5, with Rebec and Alexin following in two close sets. Rebec faced Cinkova, falling short in matching 6-4 sets. Alexin kept the fight going against Becirovic, but ultimately fell short, 7-5, 6-4.
A chance to give the Buffs the upper hand came at No. 2 and 6, with a tough battle from van der Werff and Lani Brotman. Brotman faced Cai at No. 6, taking the first set in a four-point tiebreaker. The last two sets went to Cai, 6-4, 6-3, securing Denver's win.
Despite taking her first set against Lambert in a five-point tiebreak, van der Werff fell just short of a second set, and went unfinished in the third due to the Pioneers clinching the victory.
UP NEXT
Colorado will continue competition after a week off, heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a three-match lineup. The Buffs will face Alabama on Feb. 13, followed by Minnesota and St. Thomas on Feb. 15.
RESULTS
Doubles
Singles
NOTES
"These matches, you hate to drop them, but early in the year, we must learn and grow from it. Denver is a good team. We knew it was going to be a battle. It's just handling those tight moments a bit better and making sure we're not the first ones to blink."
The Buffs started the day off with a win in what was a closely contended doubles match-up. After a close loss at the top spot, Colorado rallied back for two victories to take the first point leading into singles.
Singles was a close finish coming down to the last two courts. Colorado found one victory at the No. 3 spot from Ema Bubalo but fell short in four courts to give the Pioneers the win. After doing down 3-2, the Buffs were in the third set in the final two singles matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles started off with a loss at the top spot, with Ema Bubalo and Anya Nelson falling short against Novak and Lambert, 6-2.
Pia Rebec and Aya El Sayed picked it up at No. 2, finding a 6-2 victory over Cai and Wikander to even the playing field.
In a back-and-forth at No. 3, Lera Alexin and Rixt van der Werff brought the score to 5-5, keeping it close against Adkins and Cinkova. The pair managed to pick up two games, taking the 7-5 win and giving Colorado the doubles point.
Singles competition began with a tough battle at the top spot for El Sayed's return to the singles lineup. El Sayed faced No. 77 Louise Wikander, and fell short in a 6-2, 6-4, straight set to tie it up, 1-1.
Bubalo followed at No. 3 to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. The junior faced Adkins, taking the Pioneer down in matching 6-4 sets.
The Pioneers found their 3-2 lead at No. 4 and 5, with Rebec and Alexin following in two close sets. Rebec faced Cinkova, falling short in matching 6-4 sets. Alexin kept the fight going against Becirovic, but ultimately fell short, 7-5, 6-4.
A chance to give the Buffs the upper hand came at No. 2 and 6, with a tough battle from van der Werff and Lani Brotman. Brotman faced Cai at No. 6, taking the first set in a four-point tiebreaker. The last two sets went to Cai, 6-4, 6-3, securing Denver's win.
Despite taking her first set against Lambert in a five-point tiebreak, van der Werff fell just short of a second set, and went unfinished in the third due to the Pioneers clinching the victory.
UP NEXT
Colorado will continue competition after a week off, heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a three-match lineup. The Buffs will face Alabama on Feb. 13, followed by Minnesota and St. Thomas on Feb. 15.
RESULTS
Doubles
- Becirovic/Lambert (DU) def. Nelson/Bubalo (CU), 6-2
- Rebec/El Sayed (CU) def. Cai/Wikander (DU), 6-2
- Alexin/van der Werff (CU) def. Adkins/Cinkova (DU), 7-5
Singles
- No. 77 Louise Wikander (DU) def. Aya El Sayed (CU), 6-2, 6-4
- Marley Lambert (DU) vs. Rixt Van der Werff (CU), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 1-1, unf.
- Ema Bubalo (CU) def. Zoe Adkins (DU), 6-4, 6-4
- Natalie Cinkova (DU) def. Pia Rebec (CU), 6-4, 6-4
- Hana Becirovic Novak (DU) def. Lera Alexin (CU), 7-5, 6-4
- Yunfei Cai (DU) def. Lani Brotman (CU), 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3
NOTES
- Duo Alexin and van der Werff now hold a seven-match win streak, which started on November 7, 2025.
- Bubalo recorded her 24th career singles victory, the third highest for the team.
- El Sayed and Rebec record their second win of the season as a duo, and their 21st career win together.
Players Mentioned
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