LAS VEGAS – Old sayings seem to lose their luster through time, but for Colorado State’s women’s tennis team, it’s bringing one back in vogue.
There’s a first time for everything.
With Saturday’s 4-2 dual win over UNLV at the Fertitta Tennis Complex, the Rams checked off a few more boxes, winning a third consecutive match in Mountain West play for the first time, and the four wins in a single Mountain West regular season is a first. All it took was for the Rams to beat the Rebels for just the third time in history and the first time since 2001.
The Rams (10-6 overall, 4-1 MW) took the more difficult route to victory as host UNLV won the doubles point by posting wins at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots and were leading at No. 1 when it was decided. At singles, the team was more than up for the challenge – and a few challenging matches – to win for the second time this season after losing the doubles point (Gonzaga being the first).
“We did not play our game of doubles. We had good moments, but I knew we had to go back to playing our game of tennis with lots of energy and confidence,” CSU coach Mai-Ly Tran said. “I’m so proud of how the girls bounced back and come out so strong in the first set of singles. Everyone played with grit and stayed composed when UNLV fought back.”
Radka Buzkova was quick to the task at the No. 2 singles spot, beating Zita Kovacs in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Anastasiia Kotsyuba also won in straight sets at No. 6, but she pushed a bit more in her 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Kotsyuba’s win notched the team score at 2-all, with three still on the court. It was just her fourth singles match of the spring, her second in conference play as the native of Ukraine has dealt with a wave of emotions, concerned for her family back home in Odessa.
“Nastya was our MVP today,” Tran said. “She has overcome so much heading into this, and I couldn’t be happier for her to contribute to this team win. She played amazing.”
After winning the first set, both Somer Dalla-Bona (No. 1) and Sarka Richterova (No. 3), dropped the second set before each roared back with impressive third sets. Dalla-Bona dropped just one game in the third in her 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 win over Molly Helgesson; Richterova just two in beating Izumi Asano 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Colorado State’s weekend continues Sunday as it faces No. 70 San Diego State in a neutral-site match beginning at 10:30 a.m. MT.