Buffs Fall To Alabama

Friday, February 13

Minneapolis, MN

2 p.m.

Colorado

Alabama

February 13, 2026 | Tennis

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By: Aiden Tank, Athletic Communications

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Colorado opened up its three-match weekend against Alabama at the Baseline Tennis Center, falling 4-0.

The Buffs (3-2) struggled to find a footing against Alabama (7-0) but led at one doubles position and two singles spots when the match was clinched.

"Tough result for our group today," head coach Anthony Pham said. "The margins in these matches are so slim and I thought Alabama handled those match defining moments better than we did today. We've have two really great opportunities on Sunday and I know our team will be ready to take advantage of them."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama got off to a hot start in doubles, taking the top spot 6-1 from the effort of Kristina Paskaauakas and Karla Bartel over Aya El Sayed and Pia Rebec.

They quickly took the doubles point after Amina Salibayeva and Mary Sidelnyk took down Lani Brotman and Yukiko Ikedo 6-1. This was Ikedo's first match of the spring.

Alexin and Rixt van der Werff were leading over Klara Milicevic and Maria Andrienko at No. 2 doubles 4-3 when the doubles point was clinched.

Singles started with Paskaauakas, the No. 45-ranked singles player in the country, taking the top spot 6-2, 6-2 over El Sayed.

At No. 2 singles, Van der Werff made a comeback attempt in the first set against Milicevic. After trailing 4-1, she rallied to trail 5-4, and after battling in the final game, she dropped the first set 6-4. Milicevic controlled the second set, winning 6-1 to give Alabama a 3-0 lead.

Rebec faced off against Andrienko at No. 3 singles and started strong, getting out to a 4-3 lead in the first set. Andrienko responded by winning six straight games to take the first set 6-4 and get out quickly in the second set. She ended up clinching the match with a 6-2 second set.

No. 4 singles saw Brotman fight in both sets. In the opener, she battled and trailed 4-3 before dropping the final two games. In the second set against Bartel, neither player led by more than a game at any point. The second set was in a tiebreaker when the match was clinched, leaving it unfinished 6-6 (3-2) in favor of Bartel.

Alexin took the strong start from doubles into singles, taking a 5-1 lead against Salibayeva in the first set at No. 5 singles. Salibayeva countered by taking the following five games to lead 6-5. Alexin didn't falter; she took the next game, forcing a tiebreaker, and came out on top 7-6 (6). Salibayeva led 3-2 in the second set when the match was clinched.

At No. 6 singles, Nelson took the first set 6-4 against Sidelnyk. In the second set, Nelson trailed 5-0 when the match was clinched.

UP NEXT
Colorado returns on Sunday with a doubleheader. The Buffs begin at 8 a.m. against Minnesota and return at 2 p.m. to face off against St. Thomas.

RESULTS
Doubles

Kristina Paskaauakas/Karla Bartel (ALA) def. Aya El Sayed/Pia Rebec (CU) 6-1
Lera Alexin/Rixt van der Werff (CU) vs. Klara Milicevic/ Maria Andrienko (ALA) 4-3, unf.
Amina Salibayeva/Mary Sidelnyk (ALA) def. Lani Brotman/Yukiko Ikedo (CU) 6-1