Buffaloes Take Care of Business In Season Opener

BOULDER – Colorado tennis kicked off the 2021 season with a 7-0 sweep against NCAA Division II opponent MSU-Denver Sunday here.

Colorado (1-0) kicked things off winning the doubles point with match wins in the No.1 and No.3 matches against the Roadrunners (0-1). Sara Nayar and Sophia Derivan defeated Gala Castello and Helena Steenberg by a score of 6-2 in the No.1 doubles match. Megan Forster and Maria Campos capped off the doubles point in the No.3 match 6-3, and the No.2 doubles match was played out with Fleur Eggink and Antonia Balzert losing the No.2 match 6-4.

Heading into singles play, Derivan made quick work in the No.2 match with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Steenberg. Forster finished quickly after with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Castello. Nayar clinched the win after dropping a tough second set against Brooklyn Ross in the No.1 match. Nayar dominated the first set 6-1, then dropped the next 7-5. She battled the adversity and took control with a 6-0 final set to clinch the match.

With the match in control, graduate transfer Eggink picked up her first win in the black and gold with a 6-1, 6-3 win in the No.5 match. She was followed closely by Campos winning 6-2, 6-0 in the No.6 match. The final match came in the No.4 slot where Balzert won the first set against Isabel Heras 6-2, then dropped the second 6-3. They settled the match in a proset tiebreaker with Balzert taking it 10-4.

Colorado continues action next week with a two dual trip to Ames, Iowa, where CU will battle North Dakota and Iowa State.

QUOTES

Head Coach Danielle Steinberg

On Playing

"Playing again that's key, I mean we talked about it before the match. Just being able and being appreciative of actually being on the court and I think everyone really missed tennis when we had that long break in March and we've got to take this season basically match by match and be grateful to be on the court. I thought we did well compared to first match, always first match jitters, good thing to get out of the system at home before next weekend. We've had a really good week of practice. We pushed the girls and I was happy with how they came up today for sure."

On Players

"Everyone showed up. Sara had a tough second set, her opponent was really good and she was able to really push her level and play well in the third set. Overall I think I'm happy with everyone. Definitely can do better in doubles but it's good to get exposed early on and I know what we need to work on. Heading to Iowa next week, it's a good test for us. North Dakota will be a good match and then Iowa State is very strong. They're building a great program over there and I think that's going to be our first Top 50 caliber match so it'll be a good test early on."

RESULTS
DOUBLES

1. Nayar/Derivan (CU) def. Castello/Steenberg (MSU), 6-2

2. Ross/Myburgh (MSU) def. Eggink/Balzert (CU) 6-4

3. Forster/Campos (CU) def. Heras/Cool (MSU) 6-3

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

SINGLES

1. Sara Nayar (CU) def. Brooklyn Ross (MSU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-0

2. Sophia Derivan (CU) def. Helena Steenberg (MSU) 6-2, 6-1

3. Megan Forster (CU) def. Gala Castello (MSU) 6-2, 6-3

4. Antonia Balzert (CU) def. Isabel Heras (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 10-4

5. Fleur Eggink (CU) def. Kayla Myburgh (MSU) 6-1, 6-3

6. Maria Campos (CU) def. Marie Cool (MSU) 6-2, 6-0

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1, 5, 4, 6